Family Law - Adoption

Adoption Agencies

These are agencies through which children are offered for adoption, these may be for example, private agencies or local
authorities.

Adoption agencies should consider the suitability of an adopter and should offer counselling services, explain the legal
implications and procedure and provide written information about the adoption.

Adopters should also be informed by the agency about the process of "freeing".

An adoption agency before "placing" a child for adoption must carry out certain investigations. They should compile a
case record for each child covering the history of the child and it's parents, including their health, and also prepare
medical reports.

They should also find out about the wishes and feelings of a parent about "freeing" the child for adoption and their
wishes for the child's religious and cultural upbringing.

Where the father does not have a Parental Responsibility Order and his identity is unknown the agency should still try
and find out if he intends to apply for a Parental Responsibility Order.

The agency should also compile a case record on the adoptive parents, dealing with for example, the reasons for adopting,
their experience in caring for children etc.

The application of the adopter will be referred to the adoption panel and they will send the adopter a copy of the
agency's assessment of them, giving 28 days for them to make written comments on the assessment.
The agency must pass on those comments to the adoption panel.

If a child is in the care of the local authority or a voluntary organisation, then that local authority or voluntary
organisation has parental responsibility for the child. Their consent must be sought before the application is put before
the adoption panel.

The panel will recommend whether adoption is in the child's best interests, whether an application should be made to free
a child, whether the adopter is suitable to adopt that particular child or any child.

The adoption panel will inform the agency of its recommendations.
The agency will then inform the adopters in writing as to whether they are suitable.

If they are unsuitable reasons must be given. The adopter has 28 days to make representations if they are refused as
adopters.
Otherwise the adoption panel will make a final decision.

If accepted an adopter will be sent information about the child's history and background.

The agency must also notify the local authority, health authority, local education authority and the adopter's doctor.

The agency will visit the child after he or she has been placed with the adopters (within 1 week) to check on the child's
well being and prepare a report.

The agency should provide the adopter with advice and assistance, and monitor the child's health.
The agency must review the child's placement regularly.