The Adoption and Permanence Team is involved in the recruitment, training, assessment and support of prospective adopters. We work closely with children's social workers to identify suitable adoptive parents for those children whose families are not able to meet their children's needs. In most situations, the court will be involved in the decision that the children cannot return to the care of their birth family.

The service also works with adopted adults who wish to find out more about their own adoption.

We have a duty system which operates from 10am to 1pm, 2am to 4pm, Mondays to Thursdays and you are welcome to contact us on 01305 221453.

• Adoption and step children

  If you or your partner has a child by a previous relationship who is living with you on a permanent basis, you may be thinking about the ways in which you can secure the legal rights and responsibilities you both have regarding the children living in your family.

• Inter-country adoption

  Including adoption from abroad and adoption with a foreign element.

• Non agency adoption

  What to do if you are caring for a child of whom neither you nor your partner is a parent, and the child was not placed with you by the local authority.

• Statement of purpose

  The statement of purpose for adoption sets out the purpose, policy, principles and aims of Dorset County Council's Adoption Service.

• Who can adopt?

  Some frequently asked questions about adoption.

• Adoption process

  The route to adoption:

• Frequently asked questions about adopting

  Common questions answered

• What adopters say

  We've recently asked adopters to sum up their experience of adoption and here are some of the things they told us.

• Contact the Adoption and Permanence Team

  Contact details.