Adoption
Adoption is a way of providing new families for children who cannot be brought up by their natural parents. The adoptive parents take on the legal responsibility for the child, and the child becomes a full member of a new family, usually taking the new family name. Links with the birth family may be maintained.
Devon County Council has a dedicated Adoption Team with social workers based in Exeter, Barnstaple and Totnes. The Team also works with committed professional support, such as educational psychologists and occupational therapists.
Interested in adoption?
If you'd like to receive more information, or perhaps to discuss your interest in adoption without any committment whatever, call us on 0845 155 1013 (My Devon Customer Services - Children and Families telephone line).
You can also text 80011 (start your message with the word Devon).
Or, in either case, email us using our Enquiry Form.
We have also produced a helpful Devon Adoption Information Pack for potential adopters.
If you have been adopted we can give you help and support
If you are an adopted adult and have a query about your birth history, call 0845 155 1013 in the first instance.
We have developed two guides for children and young people who have been adopted or are going through adoption, and want to know more about the process:
Factsheets
We have produced a series of factsheets on adoption support and services. Our Social Networking and Adoption January 2012 
(68KB - pdf help) factsheet is particulary useful.
Adoption information drop-in sessions
Talk to adoption social workers and families who adopt, see a presentation, get your questions answered, have a coffee.
Pick the one that's most convenient for you...
2013 Information Meetings for Devon are all 1.30-3.30pm
- 26th July – Kenn Centre, Kennford
- 23rd August – Kenn Centre, Kennford
- 27th September – Follaton House, Totnes
- 25th October – Kenn Centre, Kennford
- 22nd November – Kenn Centre, Kennford
- 20th December – Civic Centre, Barnstaple
It would be helpful if you would email us so we know how many people to expect. Contact adoption@devon.gov.uk
New process
From 1 July 2013, there will be a change to the adoption process. There will be a new, shorter two stage approval process for prospective adopters. The aim of this process is to enable prospective adopters to learn about adoption within the first stage and then move through the approval process. The new approval process will be six months in total with Stage 1 taking 2 months and Stage 2 taking four months. There is also a new fast track process for some previous adopters and approved foster carers.
Changes to our adoption web pages
Currently, we are meeting new requirements for assessments for adoption. We are updating the information on the web pages over the next few weeks (last updated 10 June 2013).
Find out more
Contact Us
Follaton House
Plymouth Road
Totnes
Devon
TQ9 5RS
Key Publications / Downloads
- Statement of purpose (188KB - pdf help)
- Birth Parents Guide to Adoption (439KB - pdf help)
- Adoption National Minimum Standards (305KB - pdf help)
