Birth relatives

Birth parents and their families will get help and guidance from their child's social worker. You will also be offered your own support worker.

The birth parents support team offer support and advice to all parents whose children have an adoption plan.

They are not social workers, nor are they advocates for you, but they will be there for you throughout the process if you want them to be – to explain and assist you in understanding and saying what you want to say.

They cannot challenge the plan of the Department – if you want to do that you must do so through a solicitor.

You can also use the following facilities:

The Adoption Helpline
Monday to Friday, 9am to 12.30pm
Tel: 01629 532280
The Adoption Surgeries
Held monthly at Chesterfield, Ripley and Buxton
Tel: 01629 532280 to make an appointment

All parties to an adoption, the child, the birth parents and the adoptive parents can benefit from the Letterbox scheme.

Letterbox scheme

This is a form of correspondence between birth family members and the adoptive parents to give updated news about the birth family and the child.

When a child is of sufficient understanding they are generally included in the exchange. All exchanges go via the Letterbox scheme at County Hall, Matlock.

Strict confidentiality is maintained and all correspondence is checked for inappropriate material before being sent on.

Letterbox agreements are made involving the birth parents and the adoptive parents (separately), and a form is signed so that everyone knows what they have agreed to.

If people want help with writing their letter, they can attend an adoption surgery where a social worker will offer advice and assistance. Alternatively, if they have been involved with a member of the birth family support team they can get help from that person.