View report page

Adoption
Procedure and Practice in the London Borough of Hammersmith
1. Introduction
An Adoptions Officer was appointed on 1st January, 1966, and the Adoption Agency
began to function on 1st March of that year.
At that time there were in the care of this Authority over twenty children under the age
of two available for adoption. Many of them were "Hard to place"; some of them were from backgrounds
with very poor medical, mental, or social histories or legal complications; others were
of mixed racial origin or of a religious persuasion which restricted placing; and some with one or
more of these disadvantages.
At that time there were no suitable adopters available.
The first priority, therefore, was to investigate applications and find suitable adopters.
Wherever possible, expectant mothers wanting adoption of their babies were referred to existing
Agencies with waiting lists of adopters. However, not all cases could be referred as private
Adoption Agencies are free to choose the kind of child they will accept for placement and who,
for the most part, will only consider white English babies with unproblematical backgrounds.
In the recent past there has been a shift in the ratio of available babies to adopters
particularly in the London area, from a surplus of adopters to a surplus of babies. This situation
is brought about by a slight increase in the illegitimacy rate and also by changing attitudes to
adoption. Many Adoption Workers no longer think in terms of "Unadoptable" babies but are trying
to find suitable adopters who are fully aware of the possible difficulties involved in taking into
their families children with social, physical or mental handicaps.
A large proportion of such children are received into care by Local Authorities as part
of their statutory duties.
The attitude to adopters too has changed. In former years, most Agencies would only
consider applications from childless couples and the upper age limit was usually under 35 for
both applicants. Most private Agencies exercised a bias in favour of middle-class couples with
high material standards. Each application dealt with in the Children's Service however, was
considered on its own merit without stringent qualifications as to age, number of existing children,
religion or background. Apart from the legal requirements the criteria are emotional stability, a
good marriage relationship, an awareness of the complex problems of adoption, the ability to
support a child and above all the deeply felt wish to have and love a child for its own sake.
2. The Panel
The Adoption Agencies Regulations, 1959, are permissive with regard to a Case Committee
in a Local Authority acting as an Adoption Society and individual Local Authorities vary
in their practices.
In Hammersmith an Adoption Panel has been formed consisting of three nominated
Councillors, who are members of the Children's Committee,(one of them a man), the Children's
Officer and her Deputy attending alternate meetings, and a Senior Child Care Officer. The Adoptions
Officer is in attendance.
The Panel meets at the request of the Adoptions Officer at intervals of three to six
weeks, depending on the number of cases ready for discussion. The function of the Panel is to
discuss the detailed reports about applicants as prepared by the Adoptions Officer, and to decide
whether or not they can be approved.
The Panel also decide whether or not to help an expectant mother with adoption placement.
Details of her medical and social history are reported by the Adoptions Officer. Members
are also consulted about placements of children not in care. If a placement has taken place
between meetings with the approval of the Children's Officer the Committee is informed.
(84)