Forever home? The complexity of adoption breakdown in Scotland

Abstract

Adoption is widely considered to be the best option for children who are unable to live with their birth families. But what happens when adoptions breakdown? This thesis explores adoptions for 122 Scottish children who left their adoptive home before 18 years old between the years 2000-2020. The research aims were to consider: 1) Whether an adoption breakdown rate could be estimated in Scotland; 2) the factors relating to children, adoptive parents, and their wider environments that may contribute to breakdown; and 3) the factors in social work assessments, adoptive couple training and preparation that might have safeguarded or mitigated future adoption breakdown.

Data was collated from 24 adoption agencies for retrospective qualitative analysis. Social workers and adoptive parents (n=41) were interviewed.

The journey towards adoption breakdown was charted. Unresolved losses emerged for adoptive parents when meeting their children, when family life did not meet their imagined expectations, and, when the adoption ended. The transition from foster care to adoption was also problematic for 70% of the families and had long lasting effects. When crisis loomed and persisted, adoptive parents felt unsupported and compassion fatigue was apparent for many. Social work practice was varied and often unpredictable with social workers in front line practice teams taking a different approach to those in adoption teams. The aftermath of breakdown was devastating for all involved, social workers became introspective, adoptive parents felt emotionally devastated and isolated in their shame, and, many children went on to experience further disruptions in their care. Implications for policy and practice around developing the transition process, providing appropriate support for adoptive families and removing discrepancies in social work practices are discussed.