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Adopting a child

Adopt from fostering

Last updated
22 Apr 2026

You can adopt a child you have fostered through a process called 'concurrent planning'.

If you're fostering a child in concurrent planning, you'll be known as a 'concurrent carer'.

Concurrent planning

Concurrent planning is a process that allows the local council to have multiple plans in place to find a child's permanent home while they're in foster care.

In concurrent planning, you must be approved to adopt and to be a foster carer in Scotland. Before the child is placed with you, you need to agree that you are willing to adopt them if it's decided that they're unable to return to their birth parents.

The local council will regularly review the child's circumstances and decide what's best for them. The child could possibly:

  • be adopted by you
  • return to live with their birth parents

Become a concurrent carer

There are organisations that can help you become a concurrent carer. Your local council should be able to help or give you details of organisations that can help.

Find contact information for your local council's adoption service on gov.scot.

Adopt when you're not a concurrent carer

Speak to the organisation that you're fostering with if you want to adopt a child that you're fostering. They'll consider the child's circumstances and help to decide what's best for them.

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