Shout outs

Here’s what some of our service users and inspectors of our services have to say about us.

If you have something you’d like to say about the Society – good or bad – please get in touch. See also 'your feedback' section where you can leave comments about our service.

Thinking about adoption?

Application

• “Helpful; very honest (telling me when it wasn’t the right time to apply).”
  
  
• “Friendly but professional."

Preparation

• “Preparation groups provided us with excellent insight which changed some of our perceptions.”

• “Preparation sessions were well prepared and informative.”

• “We enjoyed getting to know people in our classes (preparation groups) and also hearing real life stories from other adopters.”

• “Very informative and helpful…a good building block for further thought.” (Adopter at workshop).

Support

• “Our social worker is absolutely excellent and thanks to her we have been matched with our beautiful daughter.”

• “Our social worker was reliable and approachable.”

• “They have always been there.”

• “An opportunity to chat with people in the same situation.”

Assessment

• “The home study was intrusive but the social worker was reliable and sensitive.”

• “We were treated very respectfully and courteously.” (Adopter attending Panel).

• “It helps you to understand gaps in your experience and how you can fill them.”

• “Friendly but a little scary.” (Adopters about attending the panel meeting).

• “We really enjoyed learning so much more about ourselves.”

• “I found out a lot about myself as a person…my strengths and weaknesses!”

Anancy 

• “It’s a challenge, but if you want to do something, if it’s in your heart, it’s something you can’t not do” (Anancy adopter).

Widening Horizons

• “We’re delighted to be supporting the agency to find families for children with additional needs. We hope that this is the start of a long and positive partnership with the Society.” (Founder; Young Creations Inclusive Arts group).
  
  
• “Although the process of adoption is quite scary, we found the support and encouragement we received from the social worker and others at the Society to be excellent. The input on special needs was done brilliantly.”

Supporting you

• “Excellent service…they do not patronise you or judge you.” (Independent Birth Parent Service).
  
  
• “We received excellent support leading up to placement and post placement.”
  
  
• “The weekend was brilliant; it’s really helped our daughter have more understanding about why she was adopted and that it’s ok for her to have feelings for her birth family as well as for us.” (Adoptive mum after young people’s residential weekend).
  
  
• “I especially like the fact that you also work with mothers who have lost children to adoption; to me it’s important that you have that particular link when considering placing children” (An adopter).
  
  

External Inspectors

Here are some of our inspection report comments:

• “The agency is well managed at all levels.”
  
  
• “The service to birth parents is well established and is of an excellent quality.”
  
  
• “The agency has good effective recruitment strategies.”
  
  
• “Social workers in the team offer a professional service to prospective adopters.”
  
  
• “The Society provides an excellent range of support services for adopters, families, children and young people.”
  
  
•  “The Society goes that bit further…I would highly recommend them as an adoption agency.”
  
  
• “The Society is a very caring and professional organisation.”

General

  “Just to say a huge thank you to all of you! Oh yes, and thank you for being so kind and friendly and always making us feel welcome.”

 “Thank you to St Francis for transforming our lives and the children's, we wish you all good luck in your lovely work” (Adoptive Parents)