Adoption explained
Our adopters
SupportAdoption Counts
Adoption Counts is the Regional Adoption Agency covering the adoption services of five Local Authorities: Cheshire East Council, Manchester City Council, Salford City Council, Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council and Trafford Council.
Adopting a child is a transformative and exciting experience, but we understand that it can be daunting at times. Rest assured, we will be by your side through everything, guiding you through the process from the moment you enquire to the day your child joins your family and beyond.
Adoption is a big decision, and it could be the best you ever make.
How we work since the Covid-19 pandemic
Despite the very uncertain times of the last few years, at Adoption Counts we know we have to do everything we can to avoid any delay for those children who need adoptive families.
Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic and since, we remained open for new enquiries and subsequent Registrations of Interests.
The majority of our staff are currently hybrid-working, with some days in the office and some days at home. And with our new remote telephony system, you will be able to reach us just as effectively as you did before we started remote-working.
We host virtual fortnightly information events, for anyone wanting to consider adoption, so that we can help you get all the advice and information you need to make this life changing decision. As they are virtual, you can attend these in the comfort of your own home. After that, a social worker or recruitment manager will arrange an virtual Initial Meeting to discuss the adoption process and your potential application in more detail.
During Stage 1, sessions will be a mixture of home visits carried out in your home or virtual, via ’Teams’. In Stage 2, you will mainly have home visits. Our preparation training takes place over 3 days and these are face to face sessions. Please don’t forget that the Social Worker who will be allocated to you will be there to help, guide and support you throughout the process.
Our commitment to equality and diversity
Adoption Counts is committed to equality and diversity. We welcome applicants from a diverse range of ethnic backgrounds and seek to place our children from a global majority heritage in homes which celebrate their ethnicity. We are dedicated to addressing issues raised by the Black Lives Matter movement and we stand against all forms of racism; whether overt, insidious, individual or institutional.
Support for adults who were adopted
If you are an adopted adult and live in one of our five Local Authorities (Cheshire East, Manchester, Salford, Stockport, and Trafford) we can help you find out more about your birth family history. This involves supporting you to access your adoption records and providing information and advice about how to trace members of your birth family, if you make that the decision to do so.
Before you get in touch, please read our page dedicated to accessing birth and adoption records: Adopted Adults | Adoption Counts