Here are some contacts that may be useful to you, either whilst thinking about fostering or adopting, or after having fostered or adopted a child.
Ofsted
Piccadilly Gate, Store Street, Manchester, M1 2WD
Tel: 0300 123 1231
Email:enquiries@ofsted.gov.ukTower Hamlets is regulated and inspected by Ofsted.
British Agencies for Adoption & Fostering (BAAF)
BAAF Southern England, Saffron House, 6-10 Kirby Street, London, EC1N 8TS
Tel: 020 7421 2652
BAAF is the leading national organisation,which promotes high standards of practice in adoption and fostering and social work with children and families.BAAF,as well as being a publisher and supplier of books on adoption,also publish Be My Parent,a newsletter featuring children currently in need of adoptive placements and articles of interest to anyone involved in adoption.
Adoption UK
Linden House, 55 The Green, South Bar Street, Banbury, OX16 9AB
Tel: 0844 848 7900
Adoption UK is a national voluntary self-help group supporting families before,during and after adoption.Their helpline number is open from 11.00am to 4.00pm Monday to Friday.
Post-Adoption Centre (PAC)
5 Torriano Mews, Kentish Town, London NW5 2RZ
Tel: 020 7284 0555. Advice Line: 020 7284 5879
PAC provides independent advice, information and support to anyone involved in adoption, including adoptive parents and other permanent carers, birth relatives and adopted adults. PAC’s services include: telephone Advice Line; face to face counselling; family therapeutic work; support and advice around contact arrangements between birth and adoptive families; regular drop-in for “contemporary” birth mothers; seminars, groups and workshops for all parties to adoption. A service level agreement between Tower Hamlets and PAC entitles residents to discounted rates on some of PAC’s services. The first port of call is PAC’s Advice Line, open Monday to Friday 10.00am to 1.00pm, and Thursday evenings 5.30pm to 7,30pm, or email advice@postadoptioncentre.org.uk.
NORCAP
National Organisation for Councelling for Adoptees and Parents.
NORCAP is a charity which can offer its members help and support for those who are adopted, birth relatives of adopted people and adoptive families.Tel: 01865 875000
Foster Talk
FosterTalk provides comprehensive Foster Care support services and huge member benefits for Foster Carers.
Tel: 0844 800 3880