The difference between fostering and adoption

The main difference between fostering and adoption is that adopters obtain legal responsibility for their children. This means that adopters can make legal decisions for their children, including being able to apply for the child’s passport, change the child’s surname, or give consent to non-emergency surgery.

Legally, a useful way to think about the difference is that adopters are legally in the same position as birth parents; whereas fostering is more like the support that would be given to a child by extended family members who care for the child for some time.

The assessment process

The assessment for foster carers and adopters is broadly speaking the same. Both types of assessments involve extensive checks and interviews, both with applicants and with referees and support networks.

The training provided during the assessment is also similar for both types of care, with slightly different approaches to meet the needs of the different types of applicant.

Support

Once the adoption order is finalised, adopters can make all parenting decisions for the child; this includes whether adopters engage in further training or social work support. Depending on the local authority, different levels of ongoing support is offered to adopters.

Foster carers receive ongoing regular supervision and social work support throughout the duration of their fostering experience. The support helps foster carers to respond appropriately to the different levels and types of need for the children who may join their home.

Fostering to adopt

Some foster carers are approved with a view to adopting the child that they foster. These cares know from the outset that they want to adopt, but they agree to foster children who are likely to need to be adopted so that the child doesn’t have to make additional moves.

Deciding whether to adopt or foster

Adoption is best suited to people who wish to bring a child into their home to be a permanent member of the family in the same way that a birth child would be.

Fostering is better suited to people who wish to have a partly professional role in caring for children, whilst caring for a child in their home. Due to the allowances, fostering may also be more suitable for people who don’t feel that they could afford to care for a child.