 |
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
 |
The Adoption Panel.
When the assessment is completed, the prospective adopters will be given a copy of their report, and will have up to 28 days to make written comments. The Link Worker will then present the Form 'F' on the family together with their comments (if any) to the next meeting of the Adoption Panel. At present prospective adopters do not attend the panel meeting.
Before any local authority approves an adoptive home, places a child for adoption or agrees adoption as the plan for the child, they must refer the case to their Adoption Panel for a recommendation, prior to making a final decision. In practice, the local authority usually follows its Panel's recommendation.
The membership of the Adoption Panel can consist of Elected Councillors, foster carers, adoptive parents', Social workers, independent members such as teachers, a legal and a medical advisor.
When the Panel recommends a family's approval, this will be for a specific number and sex of children, of a particular age range (for example - up to 2 children, of either sex, aged 0-4). It is possible, but not usual, for the Panel to recommend at the same meeting that a particular child is placed with the newly approved family.
The Panel's recommendation then goes forward to the Head of Social Services (Children and Families) for a decision. If this decision is not to approve a prospective adopter, the adopter has 28 days in which to make representations. The Head of Social Services may then refer the matter back to Panel for re-consideration.
