Adoption: Access to Information and Intermediary Services

This new, non-statutory practice guidance is for practitioners working with adopted adults and birth relatives who wish to find out about an adoption, and who may wish to trace and establish contact with their birth relatives through the provision of intermediary services.

In addition to guidance on the provision of intermediary services, as introduced by the Adoption and Children Act 2002 for adoptions that took place before 30 December 2005 ('pre-commencement' adoptions), the guidance includes: advice on the provision of birth records; counselling; access to information under the framework for post-commencement adoptions (i.e. for adoptions that took place on or after 30 December 2005), and the disclosure of adoption information in the range of circumstances surrounding these services, including intercountry and cross border adoptions. 

The guidance has been written in collaboration with a group of practitioners working in this area, including representatives from BAAF, AAA NORCAP, Adoption UK and from local authorities, voluntary adoption agencies and adoption support agencies. It aims to promote good practice and provide a comprehensive resource to people providing these services.

A range of other non-statutory, good practice guidance is available on the Adoption: practice guidance and tools page.