Many people who adopt have medical conditions. Adopt North East will ask you to consent to the disclosure of your medical records so that it can obtain an expert review of the impact of the illness on your suitability to become an adopter. This is to ensure that you can meet the needs of an adopted child and that adoption would not impact your own health.

Mental health issues in adults are more common than you may think. You will not be automatically be ruled out as an adopter because you have experience of or currently subject to mental health issues. Adopt North East will ask you to consent to the disclosure of your medical records so that it can obtain an expert review of the impact of your mental health on your suitability to become an adopter. This is to ensure that you can meet the needs of an adopted child in your care and that adoption would not impact your own mental health.

Adopt North East have approved adopters who have a range of disabilities, including applicants who have a PA/carer. Adopt North East will ask you to consent to the disclosure of your medical records so that it can obtain an expert review of the impact of your disability on your suitability to become an adopter. This is to ensure that you can meet the needs of an adopted child, and that adoption would not impact your own health.

Adopt North East seeks medical advice on all applicant adopters and this includes an understanding about current and future health and wellbeing. Adopt North East will therefore obtain an expert review of the impact of your weight upon your suitability to become an adopter. This is to ensure that you can meet the needs of an adopted child in your care.

Many people come to consider adoption following unsuccessful fertility treatment or the sad loss of a pregnancy. Some people can be ready to start their adoption journey within a few months and for others it will take longer. We can sensitively help you to work out the best approach and timing for you.

It is important that if you have had fertility treatment, that it has come to an end before starting your adoption journey. Adopting a child needs to be your priority and that will require you to have accepted that having a birth child is no longer an option. Once treatment has ended, we recommend that you take some time to come to terms with the fact that it has not been successful.

Adopt North East will not accept an application to adopt if you smoke. This is due to the health implications for a child in your care. The only exception to this rule is if you are seeking to adopt a child already in your care. 

If you are an ex-smoker, you will need to evidence that you have stopped smoking for at least six months prior to the date you register your interest with us.

 If you use e-cigarettes, vapes, nicotine patches, chewable tobacco or other alternatives to smoking, you will need to have stopped your use at the point of your application. This will enable you to have a period of cessation before a child is placed and so your home is a safe and healthy environment for a child.