Telling children about adoption
We’re proud to introduce a new book designed to support children’s social workers and foster carers in navigating sensitive conversations with children.
This resource helps explain to children why they cannot live with their birth family, what foster care means, and why their care plan involves adoption. These are complex and emotionally challenging messages, and the book offers guidance to ensure these are delivered with compassion, clarity, and support.
New support for children in foster care
Whether you are newly qualified or an experienced social worker, or a new or seasoned foster carer, this book will support your work with children in foster care at an important time in their lives. This essential resource is designed by two Adopt London social workers with support from their team and a clinical psychologist, with the aim of helping social workers and foster carers talk to children about their experiences, especially those whose plan is adoption.
Message from authors Steph and Rachel
“We recognise that life story conversations can be complicated for children and those initiating the conversation, and that often we – as professionals – feel apprehensive about telling children difficult and painful things, however, it’s really important that this work takes place for all children. The quality of early adoption conversations, and preparation for children will have a life-long impact on their sense of identity, self-esteem, and relationships with others.
The goal is for all children to understand what is happening in their lives as decisions are being made by the grown ups. This helps them to make sense of their world, to experience their feelings being held and validated, and to know why and when things are changing. It creates an environment where children feel safe to talk about anything and know that there is no topic that is off limits.
As social workers in the family finding team, it was important to create a book that helped our colleagues deliver some really important messages in a step-by-step guide that provided advice, suggested wording and resource suggestions.”
Telling children about adoption book
The book is a bright and colourful guide that puts children at it’s centre, and is a practical step-by-step guide to support social workers and foster carers who are working with children who’s care plan is adoption. It is intended for use for children in care aged 18 months+ and is available to social workers and foster carers working directly with children.
It supports and guides children’s social workers and allows foster carers to continue the conversations and manage feelings as and when the child needs. Every timeline for sharing information is different for each child, as is their understanding of the information being provided. Courts, decisions and circumstances can change at varying pace and this guide allows professionals to work through or dip into the steps based on the situation.
Click the link for a curated list of book recommendations to help professionals explain and support children as they learn about their journey in care—particularly those transitioning to adoption. These resources are designed to support the sensitive conversations, provide emotional reassurance, and help children make sense of what is happening in a safe and age-appropriate way.
Resources
Printable resources to support conversations with children.
How to get your copy
As a professional, you play a crucial role in helping children feel heard and understood. This book provides practical tools, insights, and evidence-informed strategies to support children in expressing their feelings and to talk through their thoughts. This book and resources are available to social workers and foster carers supporting children in the 24 Adopt London boroughs. You can contact your local Adopt London Family Finding team for more copies, advice and additional information as you need.
We’d also appreciate any feedback you have on the book and the resources available. Please click the link. Thank you.
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