The Form F assessment process is a nationally recognised format for the assessment of potential adopters and has been designed by the British Agency for Adoption & Fostering. The home study is demanding and can feel intrusive, but there are good reasons why everything is explored in depth with you. Adoption is for life and the agency must be sure you are right for the role. Just as importantly, you must be certain you can make a success of it. You have a crucial role to play at this time, the assessment is a collaborative one with applicants providing evidence of their skills, experience and knowledge to show their competence and understanding confirmed by the social worker's views.

The assessment explores:

• Your experience (if any) of caring for children
• Providing a safe and caring environment
• Working as part of a team
• Your understanding of adoption as a lifelong process
• Your own childhood and family background and what that has contributed to who you are today
• Any previous serious relationships
• Any children already in the family
• Your understanding of circumstances that lead to children not being able to live with their birth families, and how you think that may affect them
• The kind of child you want, and that would fit in with your lifestyle / interests / and personalities.
• How you think you might respond to the challenges of parenting.

Adoption Panel

The Adoption Panel consists of up to 10 memebers  from among the following:

•  An independent chairperson
• A locally elected Councillor
• 2 social workers with at least 3 years experience.
• 3 independent members drawn from adults who have experience of adoption (ie adopted, been adopted themselves), or who have knowledge of the care system, or professional work with children (ie teachers)
•  A legal advisor
• A medical advisor
• An agency adoption advisor

Additionally there is a Panel administrator, who takes the minutes.