We offer support, advice, information and counselling to people who:
We can also offer advice on assessments for adoption support and education and health issues for adopted children.
Our team includes experienced social workers offering support to adopted people and birth relatives who have an adoption connection with Nottinghamshire as well as various support packages for adoptive families experiencing difficulties. Our services are available to people who live in Nottinghamshire, or whose adoption was arranged by Nottinghamshire County Council.
Keeping in touch
We run a 'letterbox' scheme which allows adopters, adopted people and birth relatives to keep in touch. We help adopted adults to access their adoption records and we help them to search for birth relatives if they want to. We help birth families trying to find information about their adopted relatives.
Annual newsletter
We also produce an annual newsletter for everyone on our mailing list.
We have produced various leaflets that explain support services for adoptive families, adopted adults and birth relatives. Contact us to get copies.
Post Adoption Linking Scheme (PALS)
We have a Post Adoption Linking Scheme (PALS), which gives adopted children and young people the opportunity to make a relationship with an experienced worker.
PALS provides support for children and their families if they are having problems and can offer activities outside the home. We can arrange for you to have an assessment for this service.
If you would like to know more about the scheme contact the PALS co-ordinator on tel: 01623 437 226.
Adoption Support Service Advisors
All local authorities must have an Adoption Support Services Advisor (ASSA) whose role is to provide advice and information to all parties involved in adoption.
In Nottinghamshire the ASSA role is handled by Support After Adoption team managers, via Support After Adoption's phoneline tel: 01623 437988, or email support.afteradoption@nottscc.gov.uk
The ASSA will explore the level of support required when there are other agencies involved, for example when children are placed by another agency with families who live in (but have not been approved by) Nottinghamshire.
The ASSA can also help to direct people to other services they may need. If you live in Nottinghamshire this would involve our Support After Adoption service.
