Birth Relative Support

We currently offer birth relative support services to birth relatives of children who have been adopted. We are currently only able to offer a limited amount of support to relatives of children under Special Guardianship in Oxfordshire only.

This service offers birth relatives the opportunity to talk openly about adoption and be able to ask any questions you may have.

You may be feeling sad and anxious. You may also find it difficult to explain how you are feeling about the situation and may not want to discuss this with your child’s social worker.

If you talk to us, our service is confidential and we will not be telling your child’s social worker what we have discussed unless there is a safety risk.

What we can do:

  • Listen
    To your feelings about adoption on the telephone or face to face.
  • Explain
    Things you may want to know but have not been able to ask.
  • Support
    You at various meetings that you might find particularly difficult or emotional
  • Make links
     With other people who have had similar experiences or can support you.
  • Advice
    About what you are entitled to as a birth parent or relative

What we are not able to do:

  • Change
     The plan that social services have made.
  • Offer Legal Advice
    You need to see a solicitor for this.
  • Long term
    Counselling.

If you would like to access Birth Relative support services, please contact the Front Door by calling 01865 323121.

Support for all affected by adoption

Contact us

To contact the ATV Permanence Support Team please phone 01865 323121 or email ATV.Permanencesupport@oxfordshire.gov.uk

The Permanence Support Team administrator will respond as quickly as they can. Please do bear with us; we’re working through the challenges of developing our new service and of managing significant demand, but we will respond. Please leave your full name, the local authority where you live, and your contact details (phone and email if possible), to help us respond to you more effectively.

If there is an emergency and if anyone is at immediate risk of harm, please contact the Police or the safeguarding team in your local area as appropriate.

Support Plan

If only a simple, one-off service is needed, this may be provided without a formal adoption support plan being drawn up. If, following assessment, there is a need for ongoing adoption support, we will draw up a plan of what services we propose to offer. The plan will be reviewed periodically.

Training

Courses are offered to for adopters approved by us or adopters who live in the Adopt Thames Valley region.

Email us today about the training that’s offered in your area.

Helpdesk

The Permanence Support Team run a helpdesk, where a social worker will be available to talk to adoptive parents and special guardians. You can contact us either by telephone, email or by writing to us.  The adoption helpdesk is there to help us help you.

Call 01865 897981

Support Plan

If only a simple, one-off service is needed, this may be provided without a formal adoption support plan being drawn up. If, following assessment, there is a need for ongoing adoption support, we will draw up a plan of what services we propose to offer. The plan will be reviewed periodically.

Training

Course costs are met by Adopt Thames Valley for adopters approved by us and/or for adopters resident in Oxfordshire where their children were adopted more than three years ago. View information of the training we offer.