Waves Of Change
PATCH Scotland
A softer place for adoptive families in Scotland to find support, understand the system, and feel less alone.
Scotland has its own legal system, adoption legislation, children’s services, Children’s Hearings system and policy landscape. PATCH Scotland brings Scottish-specific information together in one place for adopted people, adoptive families, kinship carers, birth relatives and professionals.
For deeper Scottish adoption information, evidence, policy updates and reform work, visit the
Scottish Adoption Alliance.
Why this page matters
Adoption does not end when an Adoption Order is granted. For many families, this is where a new journey begins.
Statutory Support
Your Local Authority
Every Scottish local authority has legal responsibilities towards adopted children and adoptive families. They are usually the first point of contact if you wish to request an assessment of adoption support needs.
- Adoption support assessments
- Family support
- Therapeutic referrals
- Adoption allowances
- Social work services
National Information Hub
Scottish Adoption Alliance
The Scottish Adoption Alliance brings together adoptive families, adopted people, voluntary adoption agencies, researchers, social workers and partner organisations to improve adoption support across Scotland.
Voluntary Adoption Agency
Scottish Adoption & Fostering
Provides adoption and fostering services, with support for families and records-related services for adoptions it arranged.
Voluntary Adoption Agency
St Margaret’s
A voluntary adoption agency offering adoption support and services around origins, records and adult adoptee enquiries.
Voluntary Adoption Agency
St Andrew’s Children’s Society
Provides adoption and fostering support, including therapeutic life story work, Theraplay, direct work and whole-family support.
Voluntary Adoption Agency
Barnardo’s Scotland
Provides adoption services in Scotland and support that continues after a child joins their family.
Voluntary Adoption Agency
Kibble Adoption
Provides adoption services and support using trauma-informed, attachment-informed and relationship-based approaches.
Voluntary Adoption Agencies
CVAA Scotland
CVAA Scotland brings together Scotland’s voluntary adoption agencies around shared priorities, collaboration and reform.
Peer Support
Adoption UK Scotland
Adoption UK provides peer support, training, education advice, therapeutic services and advocacy for adoptive families across Scotland.
Care Reform
The Promise Scotland
The Promise exists to ensure Scotland keeps the promise made to care experienced children and young people following the Independent Care Review.
Advocacy
Who Cares? Scotland
A national membership organisation supporting care experienced children, young people and adults through advocacy, participation and rights-based services.
Scottish adoption law
Scotland has its own adoption legislation and court processes. The main adoption law is the Adoption and Children (Scotland) Act 2007.
Adoption and Children (Scotland) Act 2007
This is the principal legislation governing adoption in Scotland. It places the child’s welfare at the centre of adoption decisions and sets out the legal framework for adoption, permanence and adoption support.
It also modernised permanence planning and recognised that adoption support can be needed after an Adoption Order is granted.
Scottish Government adoption information
The Scottish Government provides information about adoption policy, looked after children and the wider legal framework for children’s services.
Adoption support regulations and guidance
Adoption support can include advice, counselling, therapeutic support, financial assistance, help with contact and support for birth relatives.
Families may be entitled to request an assessment of adoption support needs.
More detailed Scottish guidance
The Scottish Adoption Alliance is building a Scottish-specific library explaining adoption support, legislation, policy developments and government commitments in plain English.
Adoption support should not wait for crisis
Children do not simply recover from early trauma because an Adoption Order has been granted. Many adopted children continue to experience difficulties with attachment, emotional regulation, identity, education, relationships, anxiety, trauma responses and mental health.
Support may include therapeutic help, parenting support, education advice, life story work, contact support, adoption allowances, family support, CAMHS referral, crisis intervention and support into adulthood.
PATCH believes specialist adoption support should be available whenever families need it — not only when they reach breaking point.
For more Scottish evidence, research and policy updates, visit the
Scottish Adoption Alliance.
Kinship care in Scotland
Kinship care is an important part of Scotland’s care landscape and often overlaps with permanence, adoption and looked after children’s services.
What is kinship care?
Kinship care is when a child is cared for by relatives or close family friends because their parents are unable to care for them safely.
Kinship care may be formal or informal, and legal arrangements can vary depending on the child’s circumstances.
Why support matters
Kinship carers may need support with trauma, education, finances, legal decisions, contact arrangements, family relationships and therapeutic help.
Like adoptive families, many kinship carers are caring for children affected by early adversity, loss or disrupted attachment.
Children’s Hearings in Scotland
Scotland has a unique Children’s Hearings System. It is different from the court-based systems used elsewhere in the UK.
Children’s Reporter
The Children’s Reporter receives referrals about children who may need care, protection or compulsory measures of supervision.
The Reporter decides whether a child should be referred to a Children’s Hearing.
Children’s Hearing
A Children’s Hearing is a legal meeting where trained panel members make decisions about what support or protection a child may need.
The child’s welfare and best interests should be central to the decision-making process.
Compulsory Supervision Order
A Compulsory Supervision Order is a legal order made by a Children’s Hearing. It sets out measures that must be followed to support or protect a child.
Safeguarder
A safeguarder is an independent person appointed in some cases to help protect and represent the child’s best interests.
Family courts and permanence
Children’s Hearings make many decisions about care and protection, but courts remain responsible for major legal decisions around adoption and permanence.
Permanence Order
A Permanence Order is a court order that provides long-term legal security for a child when returning home is not possible.
It can transfer some parental responsibilities and rights to the local authority or carers.
Permanence Order with Authority to Adopt
This is a Permanence Order that also gives authority for the child to be placed for adoption.
It is often an important stage before an Adoption Order is granted.
Adoption Order
An Adoption Order is the court order that legally creates the permanent parent-child relationship between adopters and the adopted child.
Contact decisions
Courts may also make decisions about contact with birth parents, siblings or wider family members.
Contact can be important, but it must be considered carefully in light of the child’s safety, welfare, identity and emotional needs.
Scottish terms explained
Scottish adoption, care and children’s services use specific language. These simple explanations are here to help families understand what professionals may mean.
Adopted child
A child who has legally become the child of their adoptive parent or parents through an Adoption Order.
Adoption Order
The court order that legally creates the permanent parent-child relationship between adopters and the adopted child.
Looked After Child
A child who is cared for by a local authority, either at home, with kinship carers, foster carers, residential care or another placement.
Permanence Order
A court order providing long-term legal stability for a child where returning home is not possible.
Compulsory Supervision Order
A legal order made by a Children’s Hearing setting out compulsory measures of care, protection or support.
Corporate Parent
An organisation with legal duties towards care experienced children and young people.
Continuing Care
Support that may allow an eligible young person to remain in their care placement beyond the age of 16.
Aftercare
Support available to eligible care experienced young people after leaving care.
GIRFEC
Getting It Right For Every Child — Scotland’s national approach to improving outcomes for children and young people.
The Promise
Scotland’s commitment to transform how children, families and care experienced people experience support and care.
CAMHS
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services. Families may seek CAMHS support where a child has significant emotional or mental health needs.
Additional Support for Learning
The Scottish education framework for children who need extra support to benefit from school education.
Scottish policy and change
Scotland continues to develop adoption and care policy through The Promise, Scottish Government guidance, corporate parenting duties, parliamentary work, research and lived experience.
Scottish Adoption Alliance
PATCH has supported the development of the Scottish Adoption Alliance, bringing together adopted people, adoptive families, professionals and policymakers to improve adoption support and outcomes across Scotland.
The Alliance is tracking Scottish Government commitments, policy developments, research and evidence around adoption support.
Policy statements and progress
The Scottish Adoption Alliance publishes policy material, progress updates and evidence relating to adoption support reform in Scotland.
Places to turn in Scotland
Trusted organisations, official sources and research for adopted people, adoptive families, kinship carers and professionals.
Scottish Adoption Alliance
Scotland’s adoption support and policy resource, bringing together evidence, lived experience, legislation, government commitments and sector collaboration.
PATCH Scotland
PATCH’s Scotland regional page and community connection point.
Adoption in Scotland
A national adoption information hub for prospective adopters, adoptive families and professionals.
Adoption UK Scotland
Information, advice, peer support, training and resources for adoptive families in Scotland.
Scottish Government adoption information
Official Scottish Government adoption policy information.
mygov.scot — Adopt a child in Scotland
Public information on the process of adopting a child in Scotland.
Children’s Hearings Scotland
Information about Scotland’s Children’s Hearings System.
Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration
Information about the Children’s Reporter and referrals to Children’s Hearings.
The Promise Scotland
Scotland’s national commitment to transform care and support for children and families.
Clan Childlaw
Specialist legal information and representation for children and young people in Scotland.
Enquire Scotland
Advice and information about Additional Support for Learning in Scotland.
Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland
Information about children’s rights in Scotland.
When you may need specialist advice
PATCH cannot provide legal advice, but some families may need independent specialist advice when decisions or support failures are affecting a child or family.
Situations where advice may help
- Permanence Orders
- Adoption Orders
- Contact disputes
- Children’s Hearings
- Education rights
- Adoption support failures
- Human rights concerns
- Complaints or judicial review
Where to start
Families may wish to contact a solicitor experienced in Scottish family, children’s, education or public law.
Organisations such as Clan Childlaw, Citizens Advice Scotland and Enquire Scotland may also help with information or signposting.
This page is for general information and signposting only. It is not legal advice. Families should seek independent professional advice for their own circumstances.