4.10.3 Placement for Adoption

SCOPE OF THIS CHAPTER

The scope of this chapter is the process for identifying a suitable adoptive family for the child, preparing the prospective adopters and child, and approval of the proposed placement by the Adoption Panel and the Agency Decision Maker. It also outlines the process for planning introductions and the placement of the child, and the process for achieving an Adoption Order.

LEGAL FRAMEWORK

Adoption and Children Act 2002

The Adoption Agencies Regulations 2005

The Adoption Support Regulations 2005

Restrictions on Preparation of Adoption Reports 2005

Statutory Guidance Chapter 4

AMENDMENTS

This chapter was amended in July 2011 in relation to the Adoption Guidance and National Minimum Standards, 2011. This chapter should be read in its entirety.

Seeking Adoptive Families
Choice and Preparation of Prospective Adopters
Financial Support Following Decision to Proceed towards Requesting Panel Approval of Proposed Placement
Approval of Proposed Placement by Adoption Panel
Matching Considerations for Adoptive Placements
Planning the Placement
The Placement
The Ending of an Adoptive Placement Prior to an Adoption Order Being Made

1. Seeking Adoptive Families

This section should be read in conjunction with the local detailed Practice Guidance (to follow).

1.1 Timescales

The overall time-scale for proposing a placement of a child with a prospective adoptive family is:

The proposed placement is to be identified, recommended by the Adoption Panel and approved within 6 months of the making of a Placement Order, except in the following case:
Where a parent requests adoption for a child of less than six months of age, the proposed placement is to be identified, recommended by the Adoption Panel and approved within 3 months of the agency’s formal approval that the child should be placed for adoption.

Following the identification of the family finder, the timing of the start of the family finding will depend on the legal position and be agreed between the child’s social worker and the family finder.

The family finder may begin a preliminary search for an appropriate family but must not actively proceed towards a link until Authority to Place for Adoption has been obtained and all other options for placement have been explored and eliminated.

These options include:

Family and Friends:

The family finder and child’s social worker must ensure that there has been consideration of seeking a Special Guardianship Order which may have greater advantages for the child than adoption by relatives in certain situations. If relatives wish to be considered for the child, they will receive the same information as all prospective adopters. Their application will be managed by the Adoption and Fostering Unit with appropriate involvement from the child’s social worker to assist with detailed information on the needs of the child. Relatives are entitled to the full preparation process - see Section 14, Assessment and Approval of Adoptive Parents Procedure
Foster Carers:

If the foster carer has indicated an interest in adopting this child, the family finder will ensure that the correct procedures are followed without delay, to assess whether or not this is a realistic option. The family finder and child’s social worker must ensure that there has been consideration of the foster carer seeking a Special Guardianship Order which may have greater advantages for the child than adoption in certain situations. Where a match is being considered, the placing agency is to provide full access to the child's adoption case record to the prospective adopters' social worker, and provide full information and specialist advice prior to the placement. See Section 15, Assessment and Approval of Adoptive Parents Procedure
Adopters of other siblings:

The family finder must ensure that the adopters of any siblings already placed for adoption or adopted have been informed of the plan for adoption for this child. See Section 13, Assessment and Approval of Adoptive Parents Procedure. Should the adopters of any siblings already adopted express an interest in being considered for this child, initial enquiries as to their suitability, and any subsequent assessment, should be made as quickly as possible.

In all the above situations, active family finding should not commence until the outcome is known.

1.2 Actions of family finder

Consultation:

The family finder will be available for consultation and guidance. This may, for example, concern the likely timescale for identifying a suitable family, when the family finder may need to provide written information to the worker for use in Care Plans for Court.
Gathering information for family finding:

Referral for adoptive family: When it has become clear that adoption is the only plan for the child, or following the Adoption Panel recommendation that the child should be placed for adoption, the family finder will arrange a Family Finding Meeting and complete the ‘Referral for Adoptive Family Form'.

The meeting should be attended by the family finder, child’s social worker, foster carer and anyone else who has significant knowledge of the child, e.g. community resource worker.

This meeting will:

Gather as full information as is available to ensure the most appropriate proposed placement,
Identify where there are gaps in the information,
Facilitate planning decisions e.g. about whether or not siblings should be placed together,
Ensure the appropriate legal route is being followed, and identify any likely difficulties or delays,
Establish time-scales for family finding,
Compile a profile of the child’s needs which will form the basis of the combined Adoption Placement Report and Child’s Permanence Report. This profile can be updated during the process of family finding as new information becomes available.
Consider the child’s needs including ethnicity, culture, religion, language, location, contact with birth family and existing networks, education, health and other special needs, and the qualities required in the adoptive family, based on the child’s identified placement needs,
The child's preferred method of communication should be known and there should be no assumption that a child is unable to communicate,
Consider the child’s current and anticipated needs for financial support (see Section 3, Financial Support Following Decision to Proceed Towards Requesting Panel Approval of Proposed Placement). Unless family finding is unlikely to begin for some time, the workers will identify the eligibility criteria (if any) the child is likely to meet. (NB There is no statutory requirement to consider the issue of the child's adoption support needs, including financial support, in the Child’s Permanence Report or at the Adoption Panel discussion of whether the child should be placed for adoption.)
Consider who should undertake the preparation of the child, and determine how the child may be involved in and express views about the process of finding a family
Discuss parental involvement, where relevant, in the family finding and placement process
Consider whether or not the child’s current carer would be appropriate as a prospective permanent placement if the carer has indicated an interest in doing so - if so, see Section 15, Assessment and Approval of Adoptive Parents Procedure
Plan the family finding work, giving consideration to the availability of in-house approved families, the opportunity of an inter-agency placement, and featuring the child in the national, local and ethnic media. To agree time-scales for the family finding work including the holding of progress meetings.

The information will be recorded on the ‘Referral for Adoptive Family Form' which will be sent to all those who attended the meeting and stored on the child's Adoption Case Record.

1.3 Considering potential prospective adopters

The family finder must keep a record of each family considered and a brief reason for each family not considered suitable. These details, which must be anonymised, will be kept on the child’s Adoption Case Record.
The family finder will consider whether there are any potentially suitable in-house approved families (including families currently being assessed) by sharing the child’s profile with the Adoption Team at the Team's fortnightly Business Meeting.
The family finder will check if any of the suggested families appear to offer an appropriate placement and the prospective adoptive families’ social workers will consider the information (available in the Child’s Permanence Report and the 'Referral for Adoptive Family Form') about the child and inform the family finder if they consider this could be a suitable placement.
The family finder will inform the child’s social worker of the potential prospective adoptive families, and invite the social worker to come to the Unit to read the relevant Prospective Adopter’s Reports.

As part of the process of choosing a family, a child’s social worker may wish to share the Prospective Adopter’s Reports with their Senior Care Manager. Foster carers have a role in discussing with the family finder and child’s social worker their observations of the needs of the child and to make comment about how the family structure or lifestyle of the prospective family may match with the child. To facilitate this discussion, it may be helpful for the foster carer to have outline information about the prospective adoptive family, but not to know all the details of their life history. It is never appropriate for the Prospective Adopter’s Report to be shared with the foster carer.

The child’s social worker will discuss the information contained in the Prospective Adopter’s Reports with the relevant adoption workers and will reach a decision about which family they wish to pursue. The document ‘Matrix of Essential and Desirable Matching Characteristics’, (see end of ‘Referral for Adoptive Family Form'), can be a useful tool in comparing families.

1.4 Foster carer’s expression of interest in adopting the child

Any expression of interest by the foster carers in adopting the child should be given immediate consideration in the context of the needs of the child. See Section 15, Assessment and Approval of Adoptive Parents Procedure.

1.5 Actions to be taken when prospective adopters are not available in house

If an in-house family is unlikely to be identified within an agreed length of time (most usually three or six months), the family finder has a range of options for widening the search for prospective adopters to those who have been approved by another adoption agency. This may be with either the North East Yorkshire Region Consortium or another adoption agency.

Where such an inter-agency placement is required, the family finder must seek approval from the Adoption Team Manager, who may consult with the Unit Manager.

i. North East Yorkshire Region Consortium placements

On a fortnightly basis, the Admin. Officer (Adoption) will send a copy of the Panel agenda to the North East Yorkshire Region Consortium to ensure that complete and timely information is available to the Coordinator. On a quarterly basis, the executive group monitors the range of families submitted with the aim of developing recruitment targets for the region which are responsive to the needs of children needing adoption.

The family finder should notify the Consortium immediately following a decision by the Agency Decision Maker that a child should be placed for adoption, whether or not a search for a suitable link is required. Referral can be made by:

use of the Adoption Register Form by post, fax or email
sending Part A1 of the Child’s Permanence Report by post, fax or email. This must be accompanied by the ‘Matching Considerations Form' – available on the K drive or from the Consortium.

The family finder can make a request for a search for a suitable family to be activated at any time if an in-house placement has not been identified. A manager’s agreement must be sought before proceeding towards a placement with a voluntary agency which is part of the Consortium as a fee will be paid. When a placement has been achieved, either in-house or externally, the Consortium must be informed.

ii. Seeking placements beyond the Consortium and Bradford

Referral to the Adoption Register

If, on commencement of family finding, or after an agreed period of time, it is decided to widen the search for the most suitable adoptive family, the family finder may use the Adoption Register. A manager’s agreement must be sought before commencing inter agency finding.

The social worker may use one of the following three ways to refer the child to the Adoption Register:

Secure Document Management Portal

This enables Adoption Team workers and Register workers to share forms electronically. The Forms may be Parts 1 to 5 of the Child’s Permanence Report or the Adoption Register’s own form: AC01. The URL (user name and password) is held by an Adoption Team Manager and members of the Team. The portal site provides instructions for the transfer of the forms.

When the Register staff identify possible placements, they will file details on the portal site and the worker will receive an automatic email alert. The form sent to the adoption social worker giving details of the suggested placement will be in pdf format for which Adobe Reader will be required.

Forms by post

Parts 1 – 5 of the Child’s Permanence Report or a completed Register referral forms can be sent by post. These are available on the Adoption Register website and as attachments to the government circular LAC(2004)27.

Secure online forms

Form AC01 can be filled in and sent to the Adoption Register securely online. Suggested match reports will be returned via the secure document management portal unless requested otherwise.

If the child is of an age to understand the implications, an explanation of the purpose of external family finding should be given, and the child’s consent should be obtained. The Adoption Register provides a leaflet for children.

Featuring the child in ‘Be My Parent’ published monthly by BAAF; or in ‘Adoption Today, published quarterly by Adoption UK, or on the Be My Parent website.

The Be My Parent service will not accept referrals for children needing adoption without a Placement Order unless the birth parent(s)/legal guardian’s consent has also been given, and/or the referring agency can provide written confirmation that the Court’s agreement to publicity has been obtained. Under the Adoption and Children Act 2002, at least one person or body with Parental Responsibility for the child should consent to publicity in Be My Parent. Good practice requires that the birth parent(s), where possible, are consulted and kept informed.

Children may also be featured in:

the ‘Child Profiles’ booklet prepared by the Bradford Adoption and Fostering Unit which is circulated periodically to adoption agencies.
‘fliers’ sent by approved adopters or by their agency.

iii. Response to inter-agency enquiries

Family finders should ensure they are likely to be available to respond quickly to enquirers as there may be considerable interest shown in a featured child. If the family finder cannot be available, the Service Adviser’s number can be given on Voice-mail. The Service Adviser will record details of the enquiries on the same form.

The family finder will use the form ‘Record of Family Finding’ (on K drive) to record all enquiries, including details of the prospective adopters and their social worker, the information that is provided to their worker, a summary of the positives and weaknesses of this enquiry and the outcome. Once the child has been adopted, this record can be anonymised and filed on the child’s Adoption Case Record.

Responses from families not yet approved should be dealt with as follows:

Take details of the family
Give limited, anonymised information about the child, in order to help the caller decide whether this is a situation they wish to pursue
Give general information about the adoption and family finding process, bearing in mind that the caller has not gone through the assessment and preparation process
Arrange a more appropriate time to hold or continue the discussion, as appropriate
If, on the basis of the discussions held, it is not considered appropriate, having regard to the needs of the child, to pursue the response, the caller should be advised of the decision, with reasons, and provided with contact details of other agencies which may be of help to them, for example BAAF and Adoption UK

Responses from already approved families should be dealt with as follows:

Take details of the family
Give limited, anonymised information about the child, in order to help the caller decide whether this is a situation they wish to pursue
Give general information about how the family finding is being conducted, bearing in mind that the family’s own agency may approach this in a different way
If, on the basis of the discussions held, it is not considered appropriate, having regard to the needs of the child, to pursue the response, the caller should be advised of the decision, with reasons.
If the family is considered suitable, their details and the names of their agency and link worker should be taken. The family should be asked to inform their link worker of their approach to the borough and that the family finder will contact the link worker
The family finder should then contact the family’s link worker and share information about the child and the family. Where it is considered that the match is not appropriate, the family’s link worker should be asked to discuss this with the family and the family finder need take no further action.

iv. Selection of interagency family

1.	The family finder will have detailed discussions with the social workers of all the families who appear likely to be able to meet the needs of the child. If, from these discussions, it appears that a placement may be possible, an exchange of information will take place.
2.	The adopters’ social worker will send to the family finder: the Prospective Adopter’s Report the minutes of their approval by the adoption agency; a copy of the prospective adopters' Adoption Medicals. If the discussions about a potential family are at a very early exploratory stage, the minutes and Adoption Medicals may be sent later, when discussions have reached a more advanced stage. The family finder will send to the adopters’ social worker the following: The Child’s Permanence Report and the Panel minutes when it was recommended that the child should be placed for adoption The Adoption Medical Report and any other information relating to the child's health and development needs; The 'Referral for Adoptive Family Form' which contains details of the child’s current and future needs to be met by an adoptive placement; An up-to-date profile of the child, including any special needs; Details of any health or educational needs; Any other relevant information. An Information Pack may be sent along with the above documents, or may be sent later when discussions have reached a more advanced stage. The Pack includes 3 leaflets: ‘Adopting a Bradford child’, ‘The process of adopting a Bradford child’, ‘Adoption Support’. Two sets of copies should be sent, one for the prospective adopters, and one for their worker.
3.	At this stage, the adopters’ social worker will summarise the information in order to discuss with the adopters the needs of the child and the issues of placement. The Child’s Permanence Report and all other written information about the child should not be given to the adopters until it becomes clear that they are likely to be the most suitable family at this stage. This ensures that adoptive families are not carrying confidential information about a child whom they will not be adopting.
4.	Once there is an indication that the families who appear most suitable for the child wish to be considered, the family finder and child’s social worker meet to make their choice. The document ‘Matrix of Essential and Desirable Matching Characteristics’, (see end of 'Referral for Adoptive Family Form'), can be a useful tool in comparing families.
5.	Once a family has been chosen, the procedure outlined in paragraphs 1.3 – 1.4 above will then be followed, with the addition of the following:
6.	The family finder will inform the prospective adopters’ social workers of the outcome of the discussions. With regard to the prospective adoptive families who have not been chosen, the family finder should give the worker clear reasons so that the family and worker can reflect on the issues raised. It can be helpful to put the reasons in writing at the same time as returning the Prospective Adopter's Report, unless the two workers have agreed to shred the documents they have exchanged. If it is agreed that the Prospective Adopter’s Report will be kept so that they may be considered for other children for whom the Team is family finding, it should be placed in the ‘Inter Agency Family Finding’ Team Drawer, with a front sheet (‘Inter Agency Prospective Adopters’ Report – Information Front Sheet) completed by the family finder.

2. Choice and Preparation of Prospective Adopters

2.1	Informing and consulting with prospective adopters
	2.1.1	This section should be read in conjunction with the local detailed Practice Guidance (to follow). This is a process whereby information is given to the suggested prospective adopters so that they can make an informed choice as to whether they wish to be considered. At the same time the local authority is forming a view as to whether this particular family is likely to meet the needs of the child and what the support needs might be. The process follows a sequence Initial discussion with prospective adopter The visit by child’s and adopters’ social workers Decision to proceed or not to proceed with proposed match Informing child’s foster carers of outcome Ensuring prospective adopters have full information and understanding of the child i. Initial discussion with prospective adopter: Once a potentially suitable family has been identified, the adopters’ social worker will visit the family to discuss the suggested child and all possible issues which have been identified. The social worker will need to be satisfied that the family has fully heard and understood all the implications of the task of adopting this particular child. The prospective adopters’ social worker will take a copy of the Child’s Permanence Report in order to give them full information and answer any questions they may have. The worker may then leave a copy of the Report, which will include a photo, if it seems likely they will wish to proceed to the next stage of meeting the child’s social worker. If the worker has doubts about the likelihood of either the adopters or workers not wishing to pursue this placement, then a written summary of the particular issues relevant to the particular child should be left with them rather than the whole Child’s Permanence Report. This will prevent the prospective adopters being in possession of confidential information which they do not need if the suggested placement does not proceed. The issues to be covered during this visit include: Any medical, developmental or learning needs of the child, Any uncertainty as a result of parental drug and alcohol misuse, The legal basis of authority to place (i.e. a Placement Order or Parental Consent to Adoptive Placement), Whether there are any legal risks or likelihood of delays as a result of the legal process, The type of post-placement and post-adoption contact proposed (any Contact Order attached to the Placement Order, any voluntary direct or indirect contact) envisaged between the child and birth relatives or significant others, Whether or not a meeting between birth parents/other relatives might be possible and how the adopters feel about it, How the adopters envisage they might explain particularly difficult aspects of the child’s background, What they think of the name of the child, including whether there are any identifying implications of an unusual name, Any geographical risks inherent in this placement, The risks and challenges inherent in this placement, including attachment and any possible difficulties in parenting this child, and what support they may need, What Adoption Support services, including financial, might be needed and from whom, The plans for the sharing of Parental Responsibility until the making of the Adoption Order. The above list should be used as a checklist during the visit and then placed in the file with a record of which matters were covered. The date, venue and those present must be recorded. A record should be made on file of all documents which are given to the proposed adopters during this, and subsequent, visits. ii. The visit by child’s and adopters’ social workers: The prospective adopters must be given adequate time to consider whether or not they wish to be considered for this child. If they would like to proceed, their social worker will ensure they have a copy of the Child’s Permanence Report and will visit again along with the child’s social worker, for a full discussion of the child’s profile and needs and to consider these in the light of the family’s strengths and vulnerabilities – not to make a general assessment of them as adopters. If concerns emerge about their suitability or readiness to adopt in general, this should be raised with the adopter’s social worker, not the family themselves. The workers will discuss financial Support as it relates to a child’s and family’s needs, eligibility for such support, and the assessment process - see Adoption Support Services Procedure. If it is likely that this family will wish to be considered for any element of financial support requiring assessment of financial means, workers will advise about the detail of documents required so that families can make preparation as appropriate. iii. Decision to proceed or not to proceed with proposed placement: This decision about proceeding towards a proposed placement may be made during this visit, or there may need to be time for further reflection, by either the workers, or the prospective adopters, or both. It can be helpful for the workers to build in a ‘time out’ opportunity towards the end of the visit, to review whether they have covered all the topics and to discuss whether they can make an immediate recommendation. If any of the parties require further opportunity for reflection, a time should be agreed for a decision to be made and shared. This decision should be made within a short time-scale, both to avoid delay in planning for the child and undue anxiety for the adopters. If the workers are considering that the proposed prospective adopters are unlikely to be suitable for this particular child, they should be given the reasons in writing and have an opportunity to make representations to an Adoption Team Manager before a final decision is reached. (They also have the right to use the Council’s Comments and Complaints Service if they feel that the Department’s policies and procedures have not been followed.) The reasons for the decision not to proceed should be recorded on the Prospective Adopter’s Case Record, with a brief anonymised note on the child’s Adoption Case Record. iv. Informing child’s foster carers of outcome: It is essential that the child’s foster carers and their supervising social worker are kept up to date with planning for the child. The adopters’ and child’s workers must therefore agree which of them will inform the carers of the outcome of the visit to the potential adopters, and this must be done as quickly as possible. The information should include whether this family is likely to be suitable, and any discussion about potential timescales. The foster carer will be consulted about a suitable date for meeting the prospective adopters to share with them more information about the child. v. Ensuring prospective adopters have full information and understanding of the child: If a decision to proceed is made, it is essential to ensure that the prospective adopters have a copy of the Child’s Permanence Report, photo of the child and all other relevant information. A video can be very helpful in giving the adopters a fuller sense of the child, once its appropriateness has been checked. During the subsequent weeks, their social worker must ensure the prospective adopters have all the information they need before committing themselves to the proposed placement, and this being presented to Adoption Panel. They should have the following opportunities to acquire this information: reading the Child’s Permanence Report, reading the minutes of the Adoption Panel that recommended that the child should be placed for adoption;, reading the Medical Adviser’s Report, reading the ‘Referral for Adoptive Family Report', reading any related reports from other professionals involved with the child, meeting the current foster carers in the adopter’s home, (this venue is appropriate to avoid any chance meeting with the child before the process of preparation and matching is complete). Both social workers should be present for this meeting in order to ensure the necessary information is shared and to lead any discussion on likely timing of placement, meeting the Medical Adviser or a specialist treating the child if there are health and development issues. The contents of this meeting must be confirmed in writing if there is any information over and above the Medical Adviser’s previously written report, for example, subsequent medical issues, meeting other professionals who are involved with the child, for example, teachers, speech therapists or psychologists, specialist reports commissioned during the Court process. Permission of the Court is required to disclose any reports which have been prepared for the proceedings. The child’s social worker must liaise with the allocated solicitor and must provide clear reasons for the request for this information. possible meeting with the Legal Adviser to the adoption agency or seeking independent legal advice if there are issues about legal risk (e.g. in relation to any Contact Order attached to a Placement Order and made under Section 26 of the Adoption and Children Act 2002) which need exploring further, consider the Adoption Support implications of the placement and what support may be available from specialist agencies or groups, have an indication of the position with regard to financial support by undertaking an assessment using the agency’s normal procedure (see Section 3, Financial Support), meeting with the adopters of any siblings, if appropriate. A ‘Life Appreciation Day’ may also be a valuable way of sharing information about a child or children. This can include a range of people who have knowledge to share about the child, so that as full a picture of the child and their needs can emerge. The adopter’s social worker must ensure they have availed themselves of relevant opportunities to acquire as full information as possible, and in doing so, have become clear about what information about the child is available, what is not available, and what are the inherent risks and challenges of this placement, including attachment and other possible difficulties in parenting this child. All the gathered written information is highly confidential and workers must satisfy themselves as to the security of the adopters’ intended storage arrangements. The date, venue and those present at any meetings must be recorded. A record must be made on the prospective adopter’s Adoption Case Record of all documents and their dates which are given to the proposed adopters, by whom, when and how (for example, by post). On the basis of the information the prospective adopters have studied, they should have full opportunity for counselling (i.e. being given advice, information and support) and also be consulted about their views on the proposed contact arrangements, how the local authority plans to apportion Parental Responsibility and the arrangements for Adoption Support.
	2.1.2	Informing and consulting with potential inter-agency prospective adopters
		i. Visit to selected family/families The family finder and adopters’ worker must ensure they have exchanged sufficient information to proceed to the next stage of the process – a visit to the family by the three workers. This visit, which may involve a long journey, needs to be planned at a time convenient to the family and all the workers, and at a time when the workers can ensure they are available to reach a decision within a short space of time following the visit. Very rarely, the family finder and child’s social worker may decide that from the written and verbal information exchanged so far, two families appear equally suitable to meet the needs of this child, and they can only make their decision on the basis of having direct discussions with both families. Knowing that they are being considered alongside another family can create additional anxiety for the prospective adopters. Therefore, if visiting both families, the workers should ensure that the visits are made and a decision made and notified to both families within a short space of time. ii. Decision to proceed with family As soon as a decision is made to proceed with a particular family, a photocopy of the prospective adopters’ medical report and the minutes of the Panel which approved them must be sent to the Medical Adviser who will be part of the Panel discussion of the proposed placement. This will ensure that, as placing agency, Bradford does not have any concerns about the health of the adopters which were not dealt with at their approval.
	2.1.3	Proposed placement of a child from another agency with Bradford adopters: In the event that a child from another agency is to be considered for a placement with a Bradford family, the process is identical to that outlined above. It is also expected that, prior to the Panel, the details of the child will be shown to the Medical and Legal Advisers of this agency, for their comments and observations. This is especially important in the case, where for reason of distance, the adopters have not been able to meet directly with all the professionals who may hold relevant information about the child.

2.2 Preparations for proceeding towards proposed placement:

Agreed timescales: During the discussions outlined above, there will have been some initial planning of likely timescales for the proposed placement, should it be approved.
It is essential to plan with the foster carers the details of proceeding with and their part in, the preparation of the child.
The adopter’s social worker should ensure that the family are preparing themselves for the likely placement by planning for the equipment they are likely to need for the age and type of child they are considering, though not purchasing expensive items until the proposed placement is approved. They may need to finish preparing a bedroom and any safety measures to the house and garden. They will also need to be making tentative arrangements concerning their employment, to ensure full availability for introductions, and for one carer to be taking Adoption Leave or equivalent arrangements for full-time care of the child.
Inter-agency: It is also essential to ensure that, in the case of an inter-agency placement, the prospective adopters are fully informed about the introduction and placement procedures of the child’s agency.
Information for the child: The adopters must prepare some age-appropriate information about themselves which can be used by the child’s social worker and foster carer to help prepare the child for a move, once the proposed placement has been confirmed. This information can take the form of a small booklet containing photos (e.g. of themselves and the most significant other relatives/friends, pets, the child’s bedroom, the garden, the car in which they will arrive to meet the child) with a short text appropriate to the age of the child.
Sharing of information with birth relatives: Wherever possible, birth parents or other significant birth relatives should have the opportunity to hear about the choice of family for the child. The proposed adopters can prepare a brief written picture of themselves for the child’s social worker to share with the parents. This may assist them to ‘let go’ or to feel involved in the process of their child moving on. Occasionally, when the child’s social worker is at the initial stage of choosing between possible families, pen pictures of the families may be used to give the birth parents some degree of choice. The pen picture should contain a brief, non-identifying description of the adoptive family, its composition, interests, the reason for adopting, and a statement about commitment to appropriate openness.

3. Financial Support following Decision to Proceed towards Requesting Panel Approval of Proposed Placement

This section should be read in conjunction with the local detailed Practice Guidance (click here)

This section sets out the categories of Financial Support and how the agency will determine what financial support might be paid to prospective adopters and how they will be notified. It should be read in conjunction with Adoption Support Services Procedure

3.1 Timing

If the workers and prospective adopters all agree that they would like to proceed to a proposed placement, the prospective adopter’s social worker (family finder in the case of inter-agency placements) will ensure that they are fully informed about, and agree with, all the elements of financial support to which they may be entitled. This process must be completed and incorporated into the Adoption Placement Report to be submitted to the Adoption Panel.

3.2 Categories

There are four categories of financial support to be considered at the time of proposing a placement:

ones to which all prospective adopters will be entitled (without an assessment of financial means) if they wish to receive them: Introductions expenses, Placement Grant and the cost of an application to court for an Adoption Order;
Legal representation costs - see Section 6.14 vii. below.
Single, periodic, time-limited payments which will not be subject to a determination of proposed placement’s entitlement to Financial Support
Single, periodic, time-limited and ongoing payments which will be subject to a determination of proposed placement’s entitlement to financial support (i.e. an agreement that the child or family meets one or more of the eligibility criteria, followed by an assessment of financial means).

3.3 Process where prospective adopters wish to be considered only for financial support which does not require an assessment of financial means (categories 1 and 2)

Note: In the case of inter-agency placements, the family finder undertakes the tasks assigned to the adopters' social worker

The adopters’ social worker will send the prospective adopters two copies of the ‘Financial Support Proposals-AD5’ letter;
The letter will set out the standard payments to which all prospective adopters are eligible if they wish to receive them;
A BACS form will be included for completion by the prospective adopters.
The prospective adopters will be required to sign their agreement to the proposal and return a copy with the completed BACS form to the worker. The prospective adopters will keep a copy of the signed proposal letter (AD5).
The worker will forward a copy of the signed ‘Financial Support Proposals-AD5’, signed BACS form and Notification To Allowances Of Date For Commencement Of Payment (AD6) to Allowances Section. A copy to be forwarded to the Level 3 Admin Officer Adoption and Fostering Unit for monitoring purposes.
Payments will be made via the C89 form, signed by an Adoption Team Manager, or the normal invoice system.

3.4 Process where prospective adopters wish to be considered for single, periodic or time-limited payments which will not be subject to a determination of proposed placement’s entitlement to financial support (category 3)

Note: In the case of inter-agency placements, the family finder undertakes the tasks assigned to the adopters' social worker

1.	Any request for a single, time limited or periodic (as opposed to ongoing) financial support may require an assessment of financial means. An Adoption Team Manager must be consulted and will determine whether a standard assessment of financial means will be required. The outcome of such discussion must be recorded and communicated to the prospective adopter.
2.	If the manager agrees to a payment which will not require an assessment of financial means, s/he will set out in writing for the social worker: the amount to be paid the reason for the payment start/review & end dates.
3.	the adopters’ social worker (or family finder in the case of inter-agency placements) should follow the process outlined in 3.3 above.
4.	The proposal letter will include the amount to be paid the reason for the payment start/review and end dates.
5.	Payments will be made via the C89 form.

3.5 Process where prospective adopters wish to be considered for single, periodic, time-limited and ongoing payments which will be subject to a determination of the proposed placement’s entitlement to financial support (category 4)

Note: In the case of inter-agency placements, the family finder undertakes the tasks assigned to the adopters' social worker

This determination consists of two elements:

a determination that the child or family is eligible for financial support
assessment of the prospective adopter’s means

a. Determination of proposed placement’s eligibility

The prospective adopter’s social worker will complete the form ‘Proposal re Financial Support Needs of the Child and Eligibility Criteria’ (Form AD1);
The Form will be emailed to an Adoption Team Manager who will record his/her decision on the form. If there are any contentious issues, the form will be submitted to the Adoption and Fostering Unit Manager for decision. The decision will be recorded on the child’s Adoption Case Record.
A determination of the child’s eligibility may have been sought at the time of commencement of family finding. If some time has elapsed between the decision and the identification of a potential placement, there may have been a change in the needs of the child which may incur financial costs. Consideration must therefore be given to updating the information contained in the ‘Proposal re Financial Support Needs and Eligibility Criteria’ and re-submit it for management agreement.

b. Assessment of financial means

The financial assessment is undertaken by the Allowances Section.

The adopters’ social worker will email a memo (Form AD2) to the Allowances Section incorporating the eligibility criterion which has been agreed. A copy will be sent to the assistant admin manager.
The Allowances Section will send to the prospective adopters a letter (AD3) explaining the process of assessment of financial means accompanied by Form C28 for the financial details and the BACS form.
The Allowances Section will notify the adopters’ social worker of the outcome of the assessment, with a copy to the Adoption Team Manager. (Form AD4)
The process of financial assessment should take no longer than 28 days from the date of Form AD2, unless there are complexities, such as the provision of appropriate documentary evidence.

c. Proposal of Financial Support

Proposal following Financial Assessment

1.	The adopters’ social worker will send the prospective adopters a ‘Financial Support Proposal’ letter (AD5) within 7 days of receiving the assessment from the Allowances Section. This will include: the payments to which all prospective adopters may be eligible, the amount of any ongoing financial support to which the prospective adopters are entitled, details of any single, time limited or periodic financial support payments which have been agreed by an Adoption Team Manager (with reasons, the amount and the start/review and end dates). the process of reviews, suspending and ending payments.
2.	The worker will sign the letter and send two copies to the prospective adopters. The letter will be countersigned by an Adoption Team Manager.
3.	A BACS form will be included for completion by the prospective adopters if they have not already submitted one to the Allowances Section as part of an assessment of means.
4.	A copy of the letter will be filed on the prospective adopters' Adoption Case Record.
5.	The prospective adopters will be required to sign their agreement to the proposal. They will return a copy of the proposal letter (and the BACS form where relevant) for the Adoption Case Record and keep a copy for themselves.
6.	The adopters’ social worker (or family finder in the case of inter-agency placements) will send the Form AD6 (and the BACS form where relevant) to the Allowances Section as the instruction to commence payment. A copy to be sent to Level 3 Admin Officer (Adoption and Fostering Unit) for monitoring purposes. A copy of the form will be filed on the prospective adopter’s Adoption Case Record.

3.6 Disagreement about Financial Support

The prospective adopters can notify the Adoption and Fostering Unit Manager if they are unhappy about any aspect of the proposal. Any issues must be resolved before completion of the Adoption Placement Report and presentation of the proposed placement to the Adoption Panel.

3.7 Process if the prospective adopters are the foster carers of the child being considered for adoptive placement

For any differences in the above process concerning foster carers who have applied to adopt a looked after child for whom they are caring, see Section 15, Assessment and Approval of Adoptive Parents Procedure and Ongoing Financial Payments.

It must be noted that the placement will become an adoptive one on the date that the Agency Decision Maker ratifies a recommendation by Adoption Panel. However, for the purposes of financial support, the foster carers may continue receiving the payments they were receiving before the placement became an adoptive one for a further 28 days. This is in order to allow sufficient time to implement the necessary changes from fostering fees to financial support (adoption).

3.8 Adoption Placement Report

The family’s social worker (or family finder in the case of inter-agency placements) will complete Section 7 (‘Financial and Practical Support’) of the Adoption Placement Report, giving full details of all arrangements concerning financial support.
The Adoption Team Manager or Adoption and Fostering Unit Manager’s confirmation of the Financial Support Plan (i.e. needs, entitlement and amount) will be indicated by the Adoption Team Manager’s signature at the end of the Adoption Placement Report.
The recommendation about any entitlement to financial support, as incorporated into the Adoption Support Plan in the Adoption Placement Report, will be considered by the Adoption Panel who may give advice on the issue.
The minutes of the Adoption Panel will record any advice concerning financial support given by the Panel when considering a proposed placement. Any resulting comments /decisions by the Agency Decision Maker will also be recorded along with the minutes.

4. Approval of Proposed Placement by Adoption Panel

4.1 Timescale

The overall time-scale for proposing a placement with a prospective adoptive family is normally:

a proposed placement with a suitable prospective adopter should be identified, recommended by the Adoption Panel and decided by the Agency Decision Maker within 6 months of the agency deciding that the child should be placed for adoption, except in the following case:
Where a parent has requested that a child under the age of six months be placed for adoption, a proposed placement should be identified, recommended by the Adoption Panel and decided by the Agency Decision Maker within 3 months of the agency deciding the child that the child should be placed for adoption.
Ongoing court procedures may complicate these timescales.

These timescales should be adhered to unless it is considered not to be in a particular child’s interest to do so. In such a situation, the reasons must be recorded on the child's Adoption Case Record.

4.2

The social workers must also ensure that Authority to Place for Adoption has been obtained, either through a Placement Order or Parental Consent to Adoptive Placement. If discussions do take place with the prospective adopters before the final hearing of a Placement Order application, it is essential they have a realistic understanding of the process and the risks. If it is likely that the Placement Order may be contested and it is not certain it will be granted, the proposed placement should not be taken to Adoption Panel.

4.3

The child’s social worker will keep the parents and child informed of progress (unless the parent has stated that he or she do not wish to be kept informed).

4.4 Adoption Placement Report

Once a suitable match has been identified, (whether with in-house approved adopters, inter agency or a foster carer approved as an adopter for the child), the child’s social worker, prospective adopters’ worker (and family finder in the case of inter-agency placements) will book a date for the proposed placement to be heard at Adoption Panel and will prepare the Adoption Placement Report.

The Adoption Placement Report must be written by a qualified social worker with suitable experience (see Section 5, Adoption Panel Procedure) and must include the prospective adopter’s views on the proposed placement, contact arrangements (including meeting with the birth parents), adoption support and any proposed restrictions on their exercise of Parental Responsibility after the placement.
The Adoption Placement Report is based on the Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families which will have been used in each stage of planning for the child. The child’s needs to be met by a prospective family will have been set out in the ‘Referral for Adoptive Family Form', and updated during the process of family finding.
Some time may have elapsed since the recommendation that the child should be placed for adoption. Significant information about the child may therefore have become out-of-date and consideration should be given to obtaining and preparing up-to-date information about the child and their circumstances, the circumstances of the family, or extra information which has been obtained about the child’s background. The up-dating may include the preparation of an addendum to the Child’s Permanence Report or obtaining a recent assessment of a need the child may have.
If an adoption medical is over 12 months old at the time of presenting a proposed placement to Panel, there should be a new Medical. For children aged under two, the Adoption Medical should have been done in the previous 6 months. In other situations, where the Adoption Medical Adviser has recommended a review within a specific time-scale because of circumstances or health needs, this must be followed.
Prospective adopter’s comments on the Report:

The family finder must provide a copy of the Adoption Placement Report to the prospective adopters with an accompanying letter asking them to submit comments on its contents within 10 working days. They are asked to ensure they comment under each heading on the reply form and to return it, along with an indication of whether or not they intend to attend the Panel discussion of the proposed placement, to the Admin Officer (Adoption).

4.5 Presentation to the Adoption Panel:

The adopters’ social worker, or family finder in the case of inter-agency placements, must ensure 16 copies of the following reports are provided to the Admin Officer (Adoption) at least 13 days before the Panel date:

The Child’s Permanence Report
A medical report, updated as necessary
Minutes of the Adoption Panel recommendation that the child should be placed for adoption
The Prospective Adopter’s Report , updated as necessary, and a recent medical (in the last 2 years)
Minutes of the Adoption Panel recommendation that the applicants should be approved as prospective adopters
A copy of the report of any review of the prospective adopters’ approval that has taken place since their approval, plus any minutes if the Review report was submitted to Panel
The Prospective Adopter’s Report , which incorporates the proposed Adoption Support Plan
The views of the prospective adopters on the Prospective Adopter’s Report

NB: There may already be several copies of much of the above paperwork held in the Unit. Workers must ascertain how many new copies are therefore needed, in order that unnecessary photocopying and use of paper are avoided.

the adopter’s social worker (family finder in the case of inter-agency placements) and the child’s social worker must study in detail the minutes of the Adoption Panel recommendation that the child should be placed for adoption to ensure any tasks recommended by that Panel and/or gaps in medical paperwork are remedied before the presentation to Panel of the proposed match.

the Admin Officer (Adoption) will send to the Medical Adviser of the Panel which is to discuss the proposed placement all medical paperwork which is held regarding the child.

4.6 Interagency family

The process is the same for an inter-Agency placement, plus the following additional issues and tasks:

If the workers from the two agencies cannot get together to complete the Adoption Placement Report for reasons of distance, the family finder will have a role in assisting the child’s social worker to prepare a draft which the adopter’s worker can complete with their assessment of how their family will meet the child’s needs and what support services will be needed.
Extra time should be allowed for the completion of the Report which may need to be sent between agencies.
It is essential to ensure that the Adoption Support Services Manager of the local authority in which the adopters live has been consulted as that agency may have a role to play in offering support in the long-term and will have useful knowledge of local resources. See Adoption Support Services Procedure
The family finder must ensure that the agency for the adopters has supplied, along with their Prospective Adopter’s Report, a copy of the minutes of the Panel which recommended their approval, and a copy of their medicals. If there are any contentious issues, for example, a health problem, these must have been discussed with the relevant advisers in the child’s adoption agency.
The workers, prospective adopters and foster carers must discuss tentative plans for the timing of introductions and placement following an approval of the proposed placement. If the adopters live too far away to travel daily for introductions, the family finder will then book suitable self-catering accommodation for the adopters for the necessary period. Points to consider for suitable accommodation include: proximity to the foster home, whether they will be able to take the child there during the day, and maybe stay overnight, safety for the child (e.g. stair gates and safe outdoor play area), and a respect for the privacy and confidentiality of the adopters and child.

4.7 Interagency child

If the situation is that of a child of another adoption agency being placed with a Bradford adoptive family, the proposed placement will be considered by the Adoption Panel of that adoption agency. The family’s worker must ensure that s/he and the family have received all the relevant information, as outlined in 1.5 iv. above before proceeding to a placement.

The adopters’ social worker must inform the Admin Officer (Adoption) of the approval of a placement between the Bradford adopters and a child from another agency. The Admin Officer (Adoption) will create an Adoption Case Record for the child.

The adopters’ social worker will prepare a short written report for Panel providing information about the approval of the proposed placement. (See format of report on K drive).

4.8	The Admin Officer (Adoption) will arrange for the paperwork to be circulated to Panel members.
4.9	The child’s social worker, the prospective adopters’ worker and, in the case of an inter-agency placement, the family finder, will attend the Adoption Panel during consideration of the matter. The prospective adopters are welcome to attend.
4.10	The Panel’s recommendation as to whether the child should be placed for adoption with the particular prospective adopters will be recorded in writing, together with reasons, in the Panel’s minutes. The Panel must also consider and may give advice in relation to the proposed Adoption Support, the proposed arrangements for contact and any proposed restrictions on the exercise of Parental Responsibility by the prospective adopters and/or the birth parents. A copy of the relevant minutes must be placed on the child’s and the prospective adopters’ Adoption Case Records. The prospective adopters’ worker will convey the Panel’s recommendation orally to the prospective adopters within 24 hours if they have not attended the Panel hearing.
4.11	At the end of the Panel, the prospective adopters will be asked to complete a Feedback Form about their experience of attending the Panel. The Form is given by the Chair of Panel and, when completed by the prospective adopters after the Panel meeting, can be handed to their worker, or to Reception, or put into a Suggestion Box in the Reception area.
4.12	After the Panel has considered the reports and made a written recommendation, the minute and reports considered by the Panel will be sent to the Agency Decision Maker who will make a decision based on this information within 7 working days of the Panel meeting. The decision will be recorded in writing and entered on ICS. If the Panel has given advice in relation to adoption support, proposed contact and/or the exercise of Parental Responsibility by the prospective adopters, the Agency Decision Maker may express a view on such advice.
4.13	The Agency Decision Maker’s decision, the reasons for this and any view he or she has on Panel’s advice must be recorded on the child’s and prospective adopter’s Adoption Case Records.
4.14	Where the Agency Decision Maker is minded to disagree with the Panel recommendation, he/she must first discuss the case with another senior officer with the appropriate experience, who should not be a Panel member. This discussion must be recorded and placed on the child’s and the prospective adopter’s Adoption Case Record.
4.15	In all instances where the proposed placement has been approved, the decision will usually be conveyed by email immediately to the adopters’social worker who will then convey this orally to them within two working days.
4.16	The child’s parents or guardians, if their whereabouts are known, must be notified orally within two working days and in writing within five working days by the child’s social worker. Where the father of the child does not have Parental Responsibility for the child and his identity and whereabouts are known to the agency – and the agency considers it appropriate – it is also required to notify him in writing of its decision.
4.17	The child’s social worker must also explain the outcome of Panel to the child in an age-appropriate way.
4.18	The manager and members of the Short-term Fostering Team must know of any imminent moves of children in order to respond to requests for vacancies. Therefore, following the approval of a proposed placement, the adopters’ social worker must write on the white board in the Fostering Team room the following details: name of the child name of the foster carers name of the family finder anticipated date of the child’s move from the foster home.
4.19	Within five days, the Admin Officer (Adoption) will send the written notification, signed by the Adoption and Fostering Unit Manager, to the prospective adopters informing them of the approval of the proposed placement. Copies of this letter will also be sent to the adopters’ social worker and child’s social worker for the respective Adoption Case Records. In the case of an inter-agency placement, a copy of the letter will be given to the family finder. A copy is also sent to the adopters’ agency along with a copy of the relevant Panel minutes and any other paperwork which had been supplied.
4.20	In the case of a proposed placement of a child with an inter-agency family, the Admin Officer (Adoption) will open a prospective adopter’s Adoption Case Record and place on the record all documents received from the prospective adopter’s agency.
4.21	In the case of a proposed placement of a child from another agency with adopters who have been approved by Bradford, the Admin Officer (Adoption) will open a child’s Adoption Case Record and place on the record all documents received from the child’s agency.

4.22 Process if proposed placement is not recommended by Panel

1.	If the Panel is unable to recommend that the proposed placement should be approved, the reasons for this will be explained to the child’s and prospective adopters’ social workers by the Panel Chair. If the prospective adopters have attended Panel, they will also be present to hear the reasons.
2.	The Professional Advisor to the Panel will notify the Agency Decision Maker as soon as possible after Panel that the proposed placement is not recommended. The paperwork submitted to Panel and the Panel minutes must be given to the Agency Decision Maker as soon as they are available. The minutes should also be given to the family and child’s social workers and the prospective adopters as soon as they are available.
3.	The Agency Decision Maker will indicate to the Professional Adviser to the Panel how s/he wishes the matter to proceed and the relevant parties will be notified.
4.	How much additional information is to be shared with the prospective adopters at this early stage will depend on the particular circumstances, but they should be kept as fully informed as possible and know that they will have opportunity for their views to be taken into account.
5.	At the point they hear from the Agency Decision Maker about how s/he wishes matters to proceed, the workers involved, in consultation with their managers and the prospective adopters if appropriate, will plan their response.
6.	The Agency Decision Maker may discuss the Panel’s views and those contained in any representations with another senior member of the agency who is not a member of the Panel, and may request further information as seems appropriate.
7.	The Agency Decision Maker may seek legal advice, but not from the Legal Adviser who was present at the relevant Panel meeting.
8.	The Agency Decision Maker will make his/her decision.
9.	If the decision is to approve the proposed placement, the Agency Decision Maker must also give a decision on the matters on which Panel, if it had been recommending, must consider and may advise. These matters are: the proposals for the provision of Adoption Support services for the adoptive family (a key issue being financial support) the proposed contact arrangements the proposed arrangements for sharing Parental Responsibility.
10.	The Agency Decision Maker’s decision will be conveyed orally to the prospective adopters within two working days. The decision will be confirmed in writing within five working days.
11.	There is no appeals process following the decision. If the prospective adopters consider that the Agency has not followed its policy and procedures, they may use the Council's Comments and Complaints Procedure.
12.	A copy of the decision letter must be placed on the child’s and prospective adopter’s Adoption Case Records.

5. Matching Considerations for Adoptive Placements

Ethnicity must not be placed above everything else when identifying potential adopters for children.

It is unacceptable for a child to be denied adoptive parents solely on the grounds that the child and prospective adopter do not share the same racial or cultural background.

If the prospective adopter can meet most of the child's needs and, the social worker must not delay placing a child with the prospective adopter because they are single, older than other adopters or does not share the child's racial or cultural background. The core issue is what qualities, experiences and attributes the prospective adopter can draw on and their level of understanding of the discrimination and racism the child may be confronted with when growing up.

6. Planning the Placement

This section should be read in conjunction with the local detailed Practice Guidance (to follow)

Once the proposed placement has been approved, the adopter’s social worker, or family finder in the case of inter-agency placements, will convene a Placement Planning Meeting to complete an Adoption Placement Plan, arranging the details of the introductions, placement and post-placement work.

In the exceptional circumstance of a proposed placement being approved prior to the making of the Placement Order, it will not be possible to make the placement until the Order has been obtained.

6.1 Timing and preparation for the placement

Preparation of the child:

The child’s social worker must ensure that the child is sufficiently prepared to proceed towards a placement. Once the proposed placement has been approved, this can be explained to the child and specific, age-appropriate work can be undertaken to prepare for introductions and a move. The child’s worker must ensure the child has adequate time to receive information about the family. A ‘welcome’ book, containing photos and some basic information, prepared by the family is an important element of providing this information. The child must also have the opportunity to express their hopes and anxieties, and to be clear about any proposed arrangements for continuing contact which is deemed to be in their interest.
The adopters’ social worker must ensure they have the information they need about the child, or when they will have opportunity to fill in any gaps. It is essential to ensure the adopters have prepared themselves for the time that will be needed for the introductions, that other commitments will not detract from the time they will need, and that the adopter who will become the full-time carer will have made the appropriate arrangements to finish work. Their worker should ensure they have a thorough understanding of the agency’s expectations of them during the introductions period.
It is also advisable to leave an adequate length of time following the decision by the Agency Decision Maker for the Adoption Placement Plan to be prepared and shared with the prospective adopters, and to proceed to the Adoption Placement Meeting. Also, they may need some time to finalise arrangements for which a commitment cannot be given before Panel.
It is also advisable to leave an adequate length of time following the decision by the Agency Decision Maker for the Adoption Placement Plan to be prepared and shared with the prospective adopters, and to proceed to the Adoption Placement Meeting. Also, they may need some time to finalise arrangements for which a commitment cannot be given before Panel.
Once the decision has been received about the date of commencement of introductions, the adopter’s social worker must complete a Matching Certificate if one is required for the adopter to claim Statutory Adoption Leave.

6.2 Contract between agencies

For inter-agency placements, a meeting will be required, involving an Adoption Team Manager, to complete BAAF Form H1 which details the legal and financial contract between the child’s and adoptive family’s agencies in relation to the placement.

6.3 Adoption Placement Plan

The adopters’ social worker must begin to prepare a draft Adoption Placement Plan which sets out the information and arrangements required to achieve a placement for adoption. Most of the information required in the Plan must be completed before the Placement Planning Meeting. Space is allowed for information agreed at the Planning Meeting. The Plan should be read in conjunction with the information contained in the Adoption Placement Report.
One form will be sufficient for siblings who are being placed together, with any differences being highlighted on the form.
Their worker will share with the family the information and proposed arrangements in the Plan, and give them opportunity to discuss any details before the Placement Planning Meeting is held.

Foster carers adopting:

Where Panel has made a recommendation to approve a proposed placement of the child with the foster carers, the placement will become an adoptive one on the date the Agency Decision Maker ratifies the recommendation. The Adoption Placement Plan should therefore be drafted before Panel considers the proposed placement and the prospective adopters given the time to consider its contents. A Placement Planning Meeting (see 5.4 below) must then be held prior to the date of the Agency Decision Maker’s decision, to confirm the details of the Plan and for the prospective adopters to give their written agreement to the proposed date of adoptive placement.

6.4 Placement Planning Meeting

The purpose of this meeting is to complete the Adoption Placement Plan from the draft and to plan in detail the arrangements for the introductions between the child and prospective adopters. There should be full participation of the prospective adopters in the placement planning process.

There should be flexibility in arranging introductions to meet the individual needs of the child and the prospective adopters, which includes the child visiting the prospective adoptive home prior to the adoptive placement. Information is to be provided to the child to ensure that s/he has a proper understanding about the accommodation and others living at the prospective adoptive home, the contact arrangements with the birth family and how to contact his or her social worker.

1.	the adopter’s social worker will convene the meeting and invite: the child’s social worker, his/her manager as appropriate, the foster carers, the foster carers’ supervising social worker, the family finder in the case of an inter-agency placement, the prospective adopters and their social worker, any other worker engaged in direct work with the child.
2.	An Adoption Team Manager, the Team Manager of the child’s social worker or a member of the Adoption Team will chair the meeting and will add to the written Adoption Placement Plan any plans or amendments to the draft made during the meeting.
3.	The child’s social worker must ascertain the child’s views and report these to the Placement Planning meeting and the meeting to review the Plan. If the Adoption Placement Plan is varied or terminated, the child must be informed in a timely and age appropriate way.
4.	At the end of this meeting, or as soon as possible afterwards, the prospective adopters must be given the final version of the Plan. The prospective adopters must sign the plan to confirm in writing that they wish the placement to proceed and that they agree to the Adoption Placement Plan. A copy must be retained on the child’s Adoption Case Record.
5.	Signature by the prospective adopters on the Adoption Placement Plan will indicate confirmation of receipt of the information to which they are entitled. Where the information/items are provided later, the prospective adopters must sign and date confirmation of receipt on each occasion.
6.	All workers involved must be clear about their respective roles and responsibilities in the implementation of the plan, and what should happen in the event of difficulties.
7.	Changes to the Adoption Placement Plan can only be made with the agreement of the social workers and must be notified to the prospective adopters in writing.

6.5 Informing birth parents

The child’s social worker will advise the birth parents of the plan whilst maintaining the confidentiality of the placement (unless the parent has stated that he or she does not wish to be kept informed.)

6.6 Introductions

i. First meeting

The child’s or adopter’s social worker will liaise to arrange for the prospective adopters to have their first meeting with the child. This will usually be before they enter into detailed plans for the introductions period and placement.

There may be instances when it is in the interests of the child or prospective adopters for this meeting to take place after the Placement Planning Meeting; for example, inter-agency prospective adopters, who will need to stay locally, may need to know the all the details of the introductions in order to arrange to be away from home.
This first meeting should be in the child’s familiar environment (unless the child is older and requests otherwise) and a social worker should be present. It will be an opportunity for the prospective adopters to gain an initial sense of the real child, to ensure they wish to proceed in building up a relationship.

ii. Subsequent contacts

The pattern of introductory visits following the first meeting will depend on the child’s age, needs and stage of development. Consideration will be given to a gradual introductory programme involving visits increasing in length, progressing (in the case of an older child) to an overnight stay and a weekend stay and in exceptional circumstances with an older child, a longer period prior to the final move. The timing needs to be sufficient to allow all the tasks of the introductory period to be achieved and must go at the pace which meets the needs of the child.
In the case of inter-agency placements, if the adoptive family does not live close enough to travel for daily contact, local accommodation must be arranged for them. Self-catering accommodation offers the opportunity for them to begin to practice caring for the child in a ‘home’ environment. A second phase of introductions may take place once the adopters have returned home, with the foster carer and child staying close by. This will give the child opportunity to become familiar with their new home and learn more about the family and community, including the school they may attend.

iii. Social workers’ roles during Introductions

The child’s social worker will be in regular and frequent contact with the child, foster carer and prospective adopters during the period of the introductions. All involved must share information with each other on a regular basis, at the frequency identified at the Placement Planning Meetings. The Plan will identify the named workers and when they will have contact with the child. The adopters’ social worker must maintain regular contact with the adopters to hear their views of the progress of the introductions and to offer them any necessary support.

iv. Review of Introductions

At the mid-point or towards the end of the introductions, a second Placement Planning Meeting will be held, at which the following areas will be addressed:

The progress of the introductions
The views of each participant on the progress of the introductions
The identification of the positives
The identification of any difficulties
The development of the next stage of the plan
The finalisation of the arrangements for the placement
Specific arrangements for the actual move.

A further meeting can be called by any of the parties if issues of concern arise. All Placement Planning Meetings should have the same people invited and take place at a venue accessible to all parties.

6.7 Adoption by foster carers

Where the child is to be adopted by his or her foster carers, the social worker should still draw up an Adoption Placement Plan to cover the areas other than introductions as set out above. The placement will become an adoptive one on the date of the Agency Decision Maker’s decision. For a smooth transition from a fostering basis, the fostering financial arrangements will continue for a further 28 days. This will allow time for the finalisation of any entitlement to financial support and any alterations to be made to the payments the foster carer receives.

6.8 Termination of Introductions

In the event of the termination of placement plans, direct work will be undertaken with the child to make sense of the reasons why these broke down and to prepare the child for any future placement. The parents must be informed (unless the parent has stated that he or she does not wish to be kept informed.)
The Panel which recommended the proposed placement will be informed by the Professional Adviser when the minutes of the proposed placement are being considered.
A report concerning the termination of introductions will be presented to Panel within 3 months of the termination if Panel is being asked to consider a new proposed placement.
A report will be presented to Panel if an Adoption Review or Looked After Review recommends a change in Care Plan. The format of the report will be the same as that required when reporting back to Panel on a child for whom no adoptive placement has been found - See Section 8.4, Planning for Adoptive Placement Procedure
The adopters’ social worker will consider with them the reasons for the ending of the introductions, and will consult with an Adoption Team Manager about the need for a review of their approval. See Section 11, Assessment and Approval of Adoptive Placement Procedure

6.9 Placement Grant

At the time of the child’s placement, the agency will give the adopters a Placement Grant to cover settling-in costs and the cost of the Court fee for the adoption application. The amount of the Grant will be increased in line with any percentage increase in ongoing financial support payments, and with any increase in Court fees.

An extra payment can be considered for some adoptive placements. This would be paid when an assessment of need indicated that the placement would require additional funding at the outset or that the adopters’ income was severely limited, such as those adopters in receipt of State Benefits or on a very low income, and single parents.

Arrangements will also be made by the family’s social worker (or family finder in the case of inter-agency placements) for them to have one year’s membership of Adoption UK.

7. The Placement

This section should be read in conjunction with the local detailed Practice Guidance (to follow) concerning a meeting between birth parents/relatives and the prospective adopters.

7.1	Once the matching of the child has been approved, the adoption agency has Authority to Place for Adoption (either through a Placement Order or Parental Consent to Adoptive Placement), the plan of introductions has been successfully completed and the Adoption Placement Plan has been completed and signed by all parties, the placement can go ahead. Consideration should be given as to whether a social worker should be present when the move of the child takes place .
7.2	Prior to the placement, the family finder must notify the present and new GP, the local authority (where the adoptive family live outside the borough), the relevant Health Trust and, if the child is at nursery or of school age, the relevant local education authority (with information about the child’s education history and whether the child has special needs). These notifications are still required where the prospective adopters were previously the child’s foster carers. Clarity of responsibility and decision-making delegated to prospective adopters about child's health needs and when/under what circumstances consent to medical treatment needs to be obtained.
7.3	The GP for the child when in foster placement must send the medical records to the new GP. The Health Visitor for the child when in foster placement can be requested to liaise directly with the new Health Visitor, and the records must be sent accordingly.
7.4	The child’s social worker must inform the parents of the date of the placement, unless the parents have stated that they do not wish to be kept informed No identifying information about the placement should be conveyed to birth parents or relatives; however, the prospective adopters may wish to provide a brief, non-identifying profile of themselves for the birth parents.
7.5	Following placement, a copy of the Adoption Placement Plan must be given to the child’s Independent Reviewing Officer, along with a copy of the Adoption Placement Report – see Monitoring and Supervision of Adoptive Placements Procedure.
7.6	The child’s social worker should ensure the date of the placement is recorded on ICS.
7.7	The child’s social worker will complete the Form C250 for notification of the date of placement.
7.8	The adopters’ worker (or family finder in the case of inter-agency placements) will ensure any agreed financial support arrangements are implemented.
7.9	For the Monitoring and Supervision of Adoptive Placements Procedure, see appropriate Chapter
7.10	If Parental Consent to Adoptive Placement is withdrawn after the placement and before or after an application to adopt the child is submitted to the Court, the child’s social worker must immediately seek legal advice. Consideration should be given to convening a planning meeting to consider the local authority’s options.

7.11 Parental Responsibility

See Planning for Adoptive Placements Procedure for Parental Responsibility as it relates to birth parents/other holders of Parental Responsibility.

1.	As part of the information prospective adopters receive about a proposed placement, the child’s and their social workers will inform them about how the local authority plans to share Parental Responsibility with them. The details will be set out in the Adoption Placement Report to which the prospective adopters must give full consent prior to the Panel discussion.
2.	The exercise of Parental Responsibility will be considered at each Adoption Review (see Monitoring and Supervision of Adoptive Placements Procedure) following placement. Some of the restrictions on the prospective adopters’ exercise of Parental Responsibility may be modified later in the placement as they become more established. Adopters are able to express their wishes and feelings about the exercise of Parental Responsibility by all parties.
3.	Once the child has been placed for adoption, birth parents are most likely to exercise their Parental Responsibility via receiving information about the progress of the child after each Adoption Review. This forum should consider whether and how to notify the birth parents of the outcome. This can provide an opportunity for the prospective adopters together with the child’s social worker to write to the birth parents and would thus be a way of helping prospective adopters to practice writing such a letter of information as part of the completion of Letterbox arrangements after the making of an Adoption Order.
4.	The following aspects of Parental Responsibility must be observed: The child cannot be taken out of England and Wales for more than a month without the written permission of those with Parental Responsibility or the leave of the Court. The prospective adopters cannot change the surname of the child prior to the making of the Adoption Order without the written permission of those with Parental Responsibility or the leave of the court. Birth parents are notified when an adoption hearing will take place except where they have given consent to the adoptive placement and advance consent to the adoption and have told the local authority that they do not wish to be notified.
5.	The following aspects of Parental Responsibility will be considered by the local authority: The agency needs to be involved in any proposal to change the first name of the child. Adopters should be encouraged to consider the good, child-centred reasons for not changing a child’s first name. There may be exceptional circumstances when it would be acceptable to consider a change of name and all aspects of these should be discussed with the prospective adopters at the time of discussing with them a proposed placement. Any plan to alter or change the child’s first name must be set out in the Adoption Placement Report and Panel may comment and advise on the proposal. Agreement must also be reached as to whether it will be appropriate for the birth parents to be informed of the change of first name. The adoption agency would expect to be consulted about planned moves. The adoption agency will need to give agreement for a child to leave the country for a holiday. The local authority would expect to be consulted about substitute care arrangements for the child, e g nursery /child minding. The policy of the adoption agency about “no corporal punishment” restricts the ways in which prospective adopters can exercise discipline. The prospective adopter will be fully involved in all discussions/planning forums with all involved professionals. In matters such as education it is anticipated that the local authority would expect to take a lead at the beginning of a placement and to reduce this to a “need to be consulted” later in the placement. The adoption agency will need to give consent for specific medical treatments, including immunisations, or planned surgery. This is non negotiable up to the making of an adoption order. A placement will have been made on the basis of knowledge about the views of adopters on the religious upbringing of the child to be placed with them. The local authority would expect to be consulted about a proposed change. Arrangement for direct and indirect contact with birth relatives will have been agreed at the time of the Adoption Placement Report and Adoption Placement Plan. There may be legally agreed plans for contact which will need Court agreement to alter. The agency will mediate and take decisions about the arrangements for contact between adopters and birth parents. Decisions will be communicated in writing to both adopters and birth parents. The agency will ensure that all children placed for adoption will have an Adoption Support Plan (incorporated into the Adoption Placement Report) and it will ensure that appropriate arrangements for financial support for adopters are put in place. Prospective adopters can request a review of the Adoption Support Plan at any time. Prospective adopters will be in agreement that birth parents will be informed if a child dies before the making of an Adoption Order and be consulted about their wishes and feelings about funeral arrangements. Prospective adopters will be in agreement that birth parents will be informed if a placement prior to the making of an Adoption Order disrupts and the child moves from adopters to another placement. See Disruption of Adoptive Placements Procedure

7.12 Contact

Planned contact may be either direct or indirect (an annual exchange of information through the Letterbox arrangement), and may be on a voluntary basis or under a Contact Order attached to a Placement Order and made under Section 26 of the Adoption and Children Act 2002.

Whilst discussing a potential placement, the workers must ensure that the prospective adopters have fully understand the implications of any proposed contact arrangements and must support them in carrying these out following placement. These arrangements will be set out in the Adoption Placement Report.
Once the placement has been made, action should be taken to implement any arrangements for direct or indirect contact (Letterbox Contact arrangements) which have been agreed. It may, at this stage, if not done previously, be helpful to involve an adoption support social worker who will be able to give guidance on any issues which may arise.
Letterbox arrangements:

The adopters’ social worker will liaise with the child’s social worker to set up an arrangement for Letterbox contact. For the procedure for setting up a Letterbox Contact arrangement, see Adoption Support Services Procedure, and for the underlying principles, see the accompanying Local Practice Guidance (to follow).
Direct meeting between birth parents/relatives and prospective adopters:

The appropriateness of holding a meeting between the birth parents (or other relatives/significant others) and adopters must be considered from the early stages of planning for the child’s adoption. The advisability of holding such a meeting will be one of the matters to be taken into account when the prospective adopter’s and child’s social workers visit a potential family and any agreement will be written into the Adoption Placement Report.

The timing of a meeting between the adopters and birth relatives will be considered at the meeting to complete the Adoption Placement Plan and at subsequent reviews, including Adoption Reviews. Such a meeting may take place any time from the introductions period to the making of the Adoption Order, or later if appropriate.

Both parties to the meeting will need full and considered preparation by their workers and support during and after the meeting. Birth relatives may also benefit from preparation and support by any independent counsellor with whom they have established a relationship.

See Adoption Support Services Procedure, and the accompanying Local Practice Guidance.
An adoption plan for a child may include a plan for direct contact between the child and a range of significant people. This may be on the basis of a Contact Order attached to a Placement Order or may be a voluntary arrangement.

The persons with whom contact may be arranged include the former foster carers, friends made whilst the child was in the foster home, a birth relative, a birth sibling or relative who is in another adoptive home. Where children have previously lived together, or had a significant relationship, ongoing direct contact, if achievable, may be beneficial.

Once the child is placed, the child’s and family’s social workers, plus adoption support social worker where appropriate, must work alongside the adopters to establish and support any such contact.

The social worker for the prospective adopter (family finder in the case of interagency placements) is responsible for liaising with the adopters of any of the child's siblings/cousins in order to reach an agreement about the form of contact which will be in the interests of both/all parties. An assessment should be made on how to deal with unauthorised or unmediated contact through online social networking sites.
Contact Orders under Section 26 of the Adoption and Children Act 2002

At any time following the approval of a placement, the prospective adoptive parents would be made party to any subsequent contact application. In this situation, they should discuss the need for legal representation with the child’s and their social worker. Should they wish to be assessed for financial support in relation to legal representation, see the procedure set out in 6.14 (vii) ‘Legal representation for prospective adopters’.

7.13 Adoption Support, including Financial Support

The needs of the child and prospective adopters for adoption support will have been set out in the Adoption Placement Report and reviewed at each Adoption Review after the placement. The prospective adoptive family must be made aware of their entitlement to a review of adoption support needs at any time, both before and after the making of the Adoption Order. See Adoption Support Services Procedure.

7.14 Application for Adoption Order

i. Timing:

An application for an Adoption Order cannot be made until the child has been living with the prospective adopters for at least 10 weeks. In most circumstances, the second Adoption Review of the child, who will then have been in placement for 16 weeks, would be the earliest forum for discussing the timing of an application.

The social workers and adopters will consider together the appropriate timing for the making of an application to adopt the child. When the adopters feel confident in their ability to meet the needs of the child, with knowledge of appropriate support as and when needed, and the child, if of sufficient age and understanding is indicating the desire to be adopted, and the workers are in agreement, this will be confirmed at the next Adoption Review. If a 6 month gap between Adoption Reviews seems too long, an extra review can be held after 3 months with a view to taking a decision about the timing of an application.

ii. Court:

The application for an Adoption Order can be made to a Family Proceeding Court or County Court Adoption Centre. The adopters’ and child’s social workers will give guidance on which Court would be the most suitable in the particular circumstances. Issues to be taken into account will include:

Avoidance of disclosing location of adoptive placement;
Continuity of judge or magistrates’ knowledge of the case;
How quickly the hearing may be listed and take place;
Potentially greater experience of County Court Care Centre, especially in protecting identity of prospective adopters

iii. Court Fees:

Prospective adopters are eligible to claim from the Court, an exemption (on the grounds of certain benefits) or remission (on the grounds of low income) from the fee. As the Placement Grant includes the amount of the Court fee, prospective adopters have the choice whether or not to apply for remission or exemption.

iv. Confidentiality:

All applicants for an Adoption Order should request that they are dealt with under a serial number. The name, address and telephone number of the applicants should not be included on the form, but should be given on a separate form, A65.

v. Application Form:

The adopters’ and child’s social workers will assist the adopters in preparing their application to court.

vi. The birth parent(s) or any other person with Parental Responsibility will be notified of the application for an Adoption Order once it has been submitted.

The application form asks for the address of the birth parents. If the birth parents’ current address is not known, the child’s social worker will provide the adopters with information about the circumstances when the Placement Order was made or Parental Consent to Adoptive Placement given. If their address was not known at that time, the social worker will give information about the efforts that were made to find them, and any succeeding events. (It is the local authority’s responsibility to try to keep in touch with birth parents, unless they have indicated that they do not want any more to do with the child or the agency.) If the birth parents’ whereabouts were known at that time but they have subsequently not been traceable, reasonable efforts to find them will need to be made by the child’s social worker.

These efforts would be similar to those required for the application of a Placement Order. It would also be helpful to consult the Court to which the adoption application is to be made as their expectations, and its guidance may be given at the Directions hearing.

vii. Legal Representation for prospective adopters:

As the birth parents/others with Parental Responsibility will be notified of the application for an Adoption Order, (except where the parent has given notice under section 20(4) (a) that he or she does not wish to be informed of any such application) consideration will be given to the need for the prospective adopters to have legal representation during the application.

Process for obtaining legal representation and help towards legal costs:

Following the Adoption Review which recommends proceeding towards an application for an Adoption Order, the child’s and adopters’ social workers will discuss with the adopters the likely response of the birth parent(s) to the application. The workers may wish to consult with the legal department (most likely, the Legal Adviser involved at the time of the application for the Placement Order) as to advice they should be giving to the prospective adopters about perceptions of legal risk.
The prospective adopters will make the decision about their wish for legal representation based on the information received. If the risk is perceived to be low, and the adopters choose not to have legal representation, the social workers should accompany the prospective adopters to the Directions/Final hearings in order to offer support.
If the prospective adopters decide they wish to have legal representation, and to have help with the associated legal costs, they must choose a solicitor taken from the Law Society Children Panel List. The child’s social worker will advise the prospective adopters which firms have acted or are acting for any other party and must therefore be avoided.
It is unlikely that Public Funding will be available unless there is a contested application. The prospective adopter’s solicitor will need to provide written confirmation that such funding is not available, the reasons for it and an estimate of costs. The prospective adopter’s solicitor will give an undertaking to inform the Local Authority if the applicant subsequently becomes eligible for Public Funding.
As the intention of the birth parents is most likely to become clear at the Directions hearing, the requested assessment of costs should relate to the period prior to and during the Directions hearing. Once the Directions hearing has taken place, it should then be clear whether or not further legal representation will be required, and a second stage assessment of costs for the final hearing may then be submitted if necessary.
Bradford is prepared to consider an assessment of costs based on a rate of £120 to £150 per hour. (2007/8 figures) If it is suggested that local factors, or the complexity of the case, will result in a higher legal rate, the reasons for this must be clearly stated.
The estimate will be submitted to the Adoption and Fostering Unit Manager (or delegated manager) for a decision. If agreement is given, this will be confirmed in writing to the prospective adopters.
The local authority will not accept responsibility for legal costs where the projected costs have not been agreed in advance.

viii. Annex A Report:

The Court will notify the child’s social worker of the date by which the Annex A Court Report must be submitted. The child’s social worker is required to complete sections A and B, the adopter’s social worker will complete Section C, and they should jointly complete Sections D and E. The Report must be clear and concise: local judicial guidance suggests approximately 10 pages.

ix. Final Hearing:

Where a birth parent/other with Parental Responsibility has indicated they wish to be heard, the court will make appropriate arrangements to protect confidentiality. If it is considered necessary, the hearing may be split into two sections, with the second section being a ‘celebration hearing’, in which the Adoption Order is pronounced to the adopters and child. The birth parents or guardians would not be notified of, or entitled to attend, this second occasion.

x. Following the making of the Adoption Order,

The child’s social worker will record the making of an Adoption Order on the Adoption Case Records and inform the Admin Officer (Adoption).

xi. The worker

The worker will also complete the relevant sections of the form ‘Report back to Adoption Panel - Child’ to inform Panel of the adoption of the child.

7.15 Final Visit

1.	Following the making of the Adoption Order and the completion of any outstanding tasks, a final visit is made to the adoptive family to say goodbye. This will mark the ending of this phase of the Department’s involvement with them, other than in respect of any Adoption Support they may already be receiving, which may include support of a financial nature.
2.	During this visit the family’s worker should ensure: The family has all the information needed - this particularly applies to the Life Book and Later Life Letter which the child's social worker often completes around the time of the making of the Order. The later life letter and life story book must be provided to the adopters within 10 working days of adoption ceremony, i.e., the ceremony to celebrate the making of the adoption order. The family is aware of sources of support and how to access them. See Adoption Support Services Procedure Support will be provided to prospective adopters as part of the Adoption Placement Plan and, where appropriate, the Adoption Support Plan, to help the child develop positive relationships and to manage the child's challenging behaviour; to promote the child's participation in leisure activities and trips; provision of support to prospective adopters to promote child's educational attainment; That the family is aware that any future requests for Adoption Support may be dealt with by an adoption support worker rather than the adopters’ social worker, especially if some time has elapsed. The family will be asked to confirm they agree to being contacted in the future for the purpose of: being informed that their adopted child has subsequent full or half siblings (see below), having the opportunity to express an interest in being considered as adopters of any subsequent child for whom there is a plan for adoption (see 6.16 below), responding to a request for information about their adopted child in the interests of any subsequent full or half siblings (see 6.16 below) Plans for ongoing direct or indirect contact have been made and any early issues dealt with. That the family is aware of the contact that the Unit will maintain with them. The adopters’ details are held on the Unit’s database, along with the ‘contact end’ date, which will be the 18th birthday of the youngest adopted child. At that date the adoptive family will be written to and asked if they wish to remain in contact with the Unit. See Adoption Support Services Procedure
3.	Following this final visit, a letter will be sent by the adopter’s worker, confirming the above topics and including any necessary further arrangements or details. The letter will also invite the adopters to provide feedback about the service they have received from the Department.
4.	If the child has been placed with another adoption agency's adopters who live some distance from Bradford, it is likely that the final visit will be conducted by their agency’s social worker and the child’s social worker. The letter setting out the above details will therefore be sent by the Admin. Officer (Adoption) in consultation with the family finder or Adoption Team Manager. The timing of the letter will be prompted by the Admin Officer (Adoption) receiving Court notification that the child has been adopted.

7.16 Subsequent siblings

It is not unusual for there to be further siblings to be born either to one or both birth parents of a child already adopted. Before ending work with an adoptive family, the adopters’ social worker should always discuss this possibility with them so that they can be clear of the Department’s policy regarding passing on information about further siblings.

During assessment the adopters will have been informed, and must now be reminded, that they will be contacted if the agency becomes aware of further siblings born to either birth parent. The reasons for this are:

So that their child the child can grow up with as much knowledge as possible about the existence of close birth relatives;
So that they can provide information about the health and development of their child for the purposes of the Child’s Permanence Report if the subsequent sibling is being considered by Panel with a view to recommending whether that child should be placed for adoption];
So that the adopters can indicate whether or not they wish to be considered to adopt the subsequent sibling.

If the child’s and adopters social workers are still playing an active role with the adopters of older siblings, agreement should be reached about which of them will inform the adopters.
If the social worker for the adopters of older siblings has ceased to have any role with the adoptive family, the Adoption Support Manager will decide, in consultation with the child’s social worker’s manager, who should inform the adopters.
When booking into Panel for a consideration of should be placed for adoption, the social worker for the subsequent sibling will be asked if there are any siblings already placed for adoption or adopted so that an adoption worker may be able to assist in obtaining information regarding the health and development of other siblings.
The information about the existence of further siblings for whom there is a plan for adoption should be provided to adopters of older siblings as soon as possible, in order to determine whether they may be interested in adopting the child.
The child’s social worker and family finder for the subsequent sibling should consider the possibility of an expression of interest in adoption at the earliest stages of planning for the child, so that they are in a position to respond appropriately. If the planning suggests adoption into the family of an adopted sibling may be in the best interest of the child, see Section 13, Assessment and Approval of Adoptive Parents Procedure.
If this is not seen to be a desirable outcome, the adopters should have opportunity to hear the reasons, and be given an indication of how they might make any representation.

7.17 Children not subject to application for Adoption Order after 12 months

If 12 months has elapsed since the proposed placement was recommended by Panel, and the child has not yet been made the subject of an application to adopt, a report will be required for Adoption Panel.

The process is:

The Admin Officer (Adoption) will send the Report-back form ‘Report back to Panel – Child’ to the child’s and adopters’ social workers for a joint report to be prepared for Panel.
The paperwork will be submitted in the same way as other documents for Panel. The workers will not be required to attend Panel.

Following Panel, the minutes of the Panel discussion and outcome will be placed on the child’s and adopters’ Adoption Case Records.

8. The Ending of an Adoptive Placement Prior to an Adoption Order Being Made

See Disruption of Adoptive Placements for procedure to be followed once the placement has ended.

Where allegations are made or suspicions raised that approved adopters have caused Significant Harm to the child, see Allegations against Prospective Adopters Procedure.

8.1

Where difficulties arise in an adoptive placement, the child’s and family’s social workers must work closely with the family and child to establish the nature of the difficulties and ensure the appropriate support is in place. Reviews must consider whether full adoption support services have been mobilised.

If all appropriate efforts to maintain the placement have failed, either of the following circumstances may apply:

Either (i) Where the adoptive parents seek to end the placement, they must give notice to the adoption agency of their wish to return the child. The agency must receive the child before the end of seven days, beginning with the period of giving notice (and give notice to any parent of the child of the prospective adopters’ wish to return the child).

Or (ii) Where the agency is of the opinion that the child should not remain with the prospective adopters and gives notice to them of its opinion, the prospective adopters must, no later than the end of seven days, beginning with the giving of notice, return the child to the agency.

Whilst bearing in mind the above timescales, the workers should engage with the family to ensure the availability of a suitable alternative placement for the child, and must consider how the child can be helped to prepare for the ending of the placement and the move.

Workers should assist the adoptive family in considering what information they would wish to be available in the future for the child. This may include information about themselves, the period of time in which they have parented the child and, if appropriate, their perception of the reasons for the placement ending. They may wish to provide this information in the form of a letter for the child, or to be included in Life work. The adoptive family should be asked to consider whether or not they would wish social workers to provide any identifying information.

Planning must take place to ensure the birth parents are appropriately informed of the ending of the placement. See Disruption of Adoptive Placements Procedure.

8.2

Where a Placement Order has been revoked, but the child has not been returned by the prospective adopters to the local authority, and the Court determines that the child is not to remain with any former prospective adopter with whom the child is placed, the child must be returned to the local authority within the period determined by the Court. The workers should engage with the family to ensure the availability of a suitable alternative placement for the child, and must consider what work needs doing with the child to prepare for the ending of the placement and the move.

8.3

Where a parent who has given consent to the adoptive placement withdraws their consent at any time up to the point where the prospective adopters apply to the Court for an Adoption Order, the child should be returned to the parents unless the adoption agency still considers that the child should be placed for adoption. In such a case, the local authority would need consider whether there are grounds to apply for an Emergency Protection Order, Interim Care Order and/or a Placement Order.

End

4.10.3 Placement for Adoption

SCOPE OF THIS CHAPTER

LEGAL FRAMEWORK

AMENDMENTS

Contents

1. Seeking Adoptive Families

1.1 Timescales

1.2 Actions of family finder

1.3 Considering potential prospective adopters

1.4 Foster carer’s expression of interest in adopting the child

1.5 Actions to be taken when prospective adopters are not available in house

i. North East Yorkshire Region Consortium placements

ii. Seeking placements beyond the Consortium and Bradford

Referral to the Adoption Register

iii. Response to inter-agency enquiries

iv. Selection of interagency family

2. Choice and Preparation of Prospective Adopters

Informing and consulting with prospective adopters

i. Initial discussion with prospective adopter:

ii. The visit by child’s and adopters’ social workers:

iii. Decision to proceed or not to proceed with proposed placement:

iv. Informing child’s foster carers of outcome:

v. Ensuring prospective adopters have full information and understanding of the child:

Informing and consulting with potential inter-agency prospective adopters

i. Visit to selected family/families

ii. Decision to proceed with family

Proposed placement of a child from another agency with Bradford adopters:

2.2 Preparations for proceeding towards proposed placement:

3. Financial Support following Decision to Proceed towards Requesting Panel Approval of Proposed Placement

3.1 Timing

3.2 Categories

3.3 Process where prospective adopters wish to be considered only for financial support which does not require an assessment of financial means (categories 1 and 2)

3.4 Process where prospective adopters wish to be considered for single, periodic or time-limited payments which will not be subject to a determination of proposed placement’s entitlement to financial support (category 3)

3.5 Process where prospective adopters wish to be considered for single, periodic, time-limited and ongoing payments which will be subject to a determination of the proposed placement’s entitlement to financial support (category 4)

a. Determination of proposed placement’s eligibility

b. Assessment of financial means

c. Proposal of Financial Support

3.6 Disagreement about Financial Support

3.7 Process if the prospective adopters are the foster carers of the child being considered for adoptive placement

3.8 Adoption Placement Report

4. Approval of Proposed Placement by Adoption Panel

4.1 Timescale

4.4 Adoption Placement Report

4.5 Presentation to the Adoption Panel:

4.6 Interagency family

4.7 Interagency child

4.22 Process if proposed placement is not recommended by Panel

5. Matching Considerations for Adoptive Placements

6. Planning the Placement

6.1 Timing and preparation for the placement

6.2 Contract between agencies

6.3 Adoption Placement Plan

6.4 Placement Planning Meeting

6.5 Informing birth parents

6.6 Introductions

i. First meeting

ii. Subsequent contacts

iii. Social workers’ roles during Introductions

iv. Review of Introductions

6.7 Adoption by foster carers

6.8 Termination of Introductions

6.9 Placement Grant

7. The Placement

7.11 Parental Responsibility

7.12 Contact

7.13 Adoption Support, including Financial Support

7.14 Application for Adoption Order

i. Timing:

ii. Court:

iii. Court Fees:

iv. Confidentiality:

v. Application Form:

vi. The birth parent(s) or any other person with Parental Responsibility will be notified of the application for an Adoption Order once it has been submitted.

vii. Legal Representation for prospective adopters:

viii. Annex A Report:

ix. Final Hearing:

x. Following the making of the Adoption Order,

xi. The worker

7.15 Final Visit

7.16 Subsequent siblings