Family Support Service
Helping to make adoptions work, either by offering information and support in the early stages or by stepping in when things get tough and families face disruption.
What is the Family Support Service?
Family Support Buddies
Family Support Buddies provide families with guidance during the early stages of placement. Trained by Adoption UK, they have a broad range of adoption experience and are linked as closely as possible to a family depending on their needs.
Family Support Consultants
If things are really tough, our Family Support Consultants can provide families with that extra level of support. Trained by Family Futures Consortium in 'Adoption and Attachment', they can help parents understand the links between their child’s early history and their behavior.
The Helpline - 0844 848 7900
Our Helpline Advisors are members of the Helplines Association and are here to support families whether they have a simple enquiry or need someone to talk to.
The majority of our Family Support Team are adoptive parents and have a range of personal and professional experience that enhances their role.
Supporting agencies as well as families
We recognise that some situations that parents face are emotionally charged and that it’s not always easy for an agency to manage support for parents in addition to the needs of the children.
Adoption UK’s Family Support Service can provide a valuable link and where necessary provide mediation if relationships have broken down.
What makes our support unique is that we are able to help children by supporting the parents who are key to the child’s recovery.
Referring families to Buddies and Consultants
Support charges
| Six 45-minute telephone sessions with either a Buddy or Consultant | £325 |
| Family Support Consultant attendance at meeting | Cost on enquiry |
Referral Form
To refer a family to the Family Support Service, please download and complete a referral form:
Agency Referral Form 2011-2012
Either email the completed form to support@adoptionuk.org.uk or post it to:
Family Support Team
Adoption UK
Linden House
55 The Green
South Bar Street
Banbury
Oxon OX16 9AB
Once the information has been received, Adoption UK will assess the family individually to determine the appropriate level of support required and will link them with either a Family Support Buddy or Family Support Consultant.
Adoption UK will send you confirmation that the family has been linked. We will then request a purchase order number and payment.
Referring families to the Helpline
Further information on the Helpline, including numbers and charges, can be found on the Contact the Helpline page.
For further information, please contact the Family Support Team on 01295 752251 or by emailing support@adoptionuk.org.uk