James, 9 months
I was born: October 2024
All about me:
James was born in October 2024. He is a beautiful baby boy with blue eyes and emerging light brown hair. James is a petite little boy, he currently wears aged 3-6 months clothing, he is following his own centile growth pattern. James has a happy personality and a lovely giggle which he offers easily. He is a content and sociable baby who has recently discovered his voice, he loves to babble and vocalise. He is in a good routine; James sleeps and feeds well, he is just about to start weaning.
Education and Health:
James is a young baby and his development is learned through play and his lived experiences. He is making good developmental progress in all areas. James likes a variety of age appropriate toys especially those that are noisy or sensory, he also likes to sit in his swinging chair watching Bluey and Dancing Fruits on TV.
James doesn’t currently have any additional health needs and is making good developmental progress across all areas. There is however some uncertainty around James’ future needs as his birth mum has long-standing substance misuse difficulties and some mental health needs, which James experienced in utero, as such he will potentially be more pre-disposed to any associated issues. James’ putative birth dad also has difficulties with significant substance misuse. Domestic abuse was a feature of birth parents relationship.
James has four older full and half brothers and sisters who have all been adopted: There are no current reported significant health or developmental concerns reported for James’ brothers and sisters.
Reasons for Coming into Care:
James is the fifth child of his birth mum and the second child of his putative birth dad. James’ older brothers and sisters were not able to remain living with their parents due to concerns around the standard of care they could afford them, they were subsequently adopted.
James has never lived with either of his birth parents moving to foster care directly from hospital after his birth, he has lived with 2 carers since his birth. Sadly James’ birth parents have not felt able to access family time with James following his birth. James is yet to meet his older brothers and sisters.
Type of Family Needed:
James’ prospective adopters would need to be accepting of his past experiences and have a good understanding of the life-long impact of adoption. Prospective adopters for James will need to be resilient and nurturing and be able to provide him with a clear sense of belonging both now and in the future. They need to accept a level of uncertainty about his future development given his lived experiences and have patience to allow James time to develop at his own pace to reach his full potential, with nurturing care and opportunities. Adopters will need to be able to promote an ongoing direct staying in touch plan with his adopted siblings.
James requires a one or two parent family of any gender. James could live with other children in the household. James can live with pets.
Staying in Touch Plan:
Birth mother and father do not currently access any family time with James and the future plan is for an indirect staying in touch plan only. A birth parent meeting with prospective adopters is not assessed as appropriate.
Adopted siblings future staying in touch arrangements will be both direct and indirect.
- This is a composite case study to illustrate the children who are being placed for adoption. All names are changed and the photograph is a model image.