Social workers will need to consider both your family profile and the child's profile to see if they are a suitable match.

If they appear to be, the adoptive family will have the chance to see more detailed information about the child including psychological profiles of the child, health records and educational reports.

If it looks like you have found your match, you will get the chance to meet the child and talk to the people who have been caring for them. This may be a foster family or staff at a children's home.

Initially, the meetings will be in the presence of the child's current carers but gradually you will be given more time to spend with them on their own and introduce them to other members of your family.

There is usually a gradual build-up of visits and overnight stays to enable you and the child to get to know each other.

If everything goes according to plan, the child will eventually come to live with you although, at this point, they will not have been formally adopted by you.

They must have lived with you for a minumum of 19 weeks before you can proceed to the next stage and apply to the court for an adoption order.

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