Perhaps a child has been looked after by foster carers for a long time and they would like to adopt. In this case, the same thorough enquiries have to be made as are made with any other adopters. It is still very important to be sure that it would be best for the child to be adopted by that family, before adoption can be recommended and an adoption application made to the court.
There is also a new order that can be made under the Adoption and Children's Act 2002 which is Special Guardianship. This gives over-riding parental responsibility to the child's carer without severing links to their birth family.