We Provide access to adoption records for adults whose adoption was arranged through Action for Children, and Intermediary Services for Adopted Adults and their relatives for facilitating contact.
If you are an adult whose adoption was arranged by us, and would like to access your records you will first need to arrange an interview with one of our adoption support workers. We will talk you through the complex issues involved in adoption and searching, where applicable, for someone from the past, as well as tell you what help is available and give you information about independent adoption support agencies. To find out more please read access to records.
Agencies may offer tracing and intermediary services, including counselling, with a view to passing on or requesting information - this can lead to indirect or direct contact. Some agencies may also charge for these services.
We offer a limited intermediary service for adults whose adoption was arranged through Action for Children (formerly NCH) before 30th December 2005, and their birth relatives, to help with locating and making contact. We can give advice and signpost you to the relevant adoption support agencies where applicable.
The law allows the following people to ask local authorities, adoption agencies or adoption support agencies for identifying information and support with facilitating contact:
However, the law does not give anyone the automatic right to have this information without the consent of the people involved.
It is the adoption agency's responsibility to carefully consider the views of the person concerned, before disclosing identifying information and assessing whether it is appropriate to proceed with an intermediary application.
Your support will help us make life better for the UK's most vulnerable children and young people.