Birth Relative Support is an independent service, provided by PAC UK, offering emotional support and counselling to adults affected by the adoption of a child.
If adoption is being considered as part of a child’s care plan, birth relatives are entitled to a range of supportive services, including:
Counselling and clear information about the adoption process and what it involves
A chance to share their views and wishesthese might include things like cultural background, religion, or other important considerations.
Support from an independent birth relative support workersomeone who isn’t involved in planning the adoption itself, but is there solely to offer guidance, answer questions, and provide emotional support.
This support is there to help you navigate a difficult and emotional time, and to ensure your voice is heard throughout the process.
Birth Relative Support Worker
An Independent Birth Relative Support Worker is here to offer understanding, guidance, and practical help throughout the adoption process. They can support you in a number of ways, including:
Offering an assessment of your support needs at any stage of the process.
Providing counselling, advice, and clear information about adoption and what it means for you and your child.
Supporting you emotionally as you cope with feelings of grief, loss, or uncertainty.
Helping with any contact you may have with your child, including support with goodbye contact.
Preparing you for, and supporting you through, a one-off meeting with the prospective adopters, if this is something that takes place.
Assisting with ongoing indirect contact (often known as ‘letterbox’ contact).
Sharing details of other organisations that can offer advice or support.
Helping you write a letter to be kept on file for your child to read when they’re older.
You don’t have to go through this alone – there is a dedicated team at PAK-UK that can help support you every step of the way.
Contacting a child after adoption
Any contact between a child and their birth relatives will always be arranged with the child’s best interests at heart.
There are different types of contact, depending on what’s appropriate for the child and their circumstances.
Direct Contact
This involves face-to-face meetings between the child and their birth relatives. These meetings may sometimes be supervised by a social worker, and adoptive parents are usually present.
Direct contact is less common and tends to be considered more often for older children as part of their adoption plan.
Letterbox Contact
This is a way for birth and adoptive families to exchange written updates (and sometimes photographs) through our Letterbox Service.
Most letterbox arrangements are agreed voluntarily by both families and are not legally enforceable. Updates are usually shared once a year.
When an adopted child reaches 18
When an adopted person turns 18, it may be possible for birth relatives and adopted adults to get in touch with each other.
However, there are strict rules in place to protect everyone’s privacy. No identifying information can be shared without the adopted person’s consent.
Adopted adults can also choose to place a full or partial veto if they do not wish to be contacted.
Similarly, birth relatives can give informed consent if they are open to being contacted by the adopted adult.
These safeguards are in place to ensure that any contact happens in a respectful and thoughtful way, with the wishes of all parties considered.
Tracing and contacting an adopted adult
Under the Access to Information Regulations 2005, birth relatives have the right to request information about their adopted family member.
This can be the first step in trying to trace and, if appropriate, make contact with them.
Organisations like PAC UK and other adoption support or intermediary agencies can help with tracing and making contact.
These services are available to birth relatives of adopted adults.
To access these services, both you and the adopted person must be 18 or over.
You’ll also need to provide evidence of your relationship to the adopted person. Support is available throughout the process to make sure it’s handled with care and sensitivity.
