Adopting Through an Agency

Anyone who wants to adopt a child needs to be approved by a registered adoption agency- private or public.

Hampshire County Council is a local authority adoption agency which assesses and approves adopters for children in the care of Hampshire County Council who are to be placed for adoption. As one of the largest counties in England, Hampshire places over 50 children for adoption each year and supports a large number of adoptive families.

As a local authority adoption agency, we welcome applicants from all ages (over 21), backgrounds, ethnic groups and faiths. We place children from birth upwards. Staff in the service have extensive experience of social work and adoption in particular and are well placed to advise families and share their expertise with colleagues across the service.

Hampshire County Council's Adoption Service works with other local authorities to place children as part of an adoption consortium which has the goal of finding the right families for children who are looked after in either Hampshire, Oxfordshire or Surrey County Council areas.

If Hampshire's adoption agency is unable to assist you in your wish to become an adoptive parent, we will advise you on other options available. If necessary, we can signpost you to another agency that may be better suited to your needs.

Find out more about Adoption with Hampshire