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282 <h2>
282 Adoption Reviews
282 </h2>
284 </div>
287 <div id="scope_box">
288 <h3>
288 SCOPE OF THIS CHAPTER
288 </h3>
289 <p>
289 This chapter applies to the reviews where the adoption agency has authority to place a child for
adoption either through a Placement Order or Parental Consent to Adoptive Placement. It sets out
the different timescales that apply depending on whether or not the child has been placed for
adoption by the adoption agency.
289 </p>
290 <h3>
290 RELATED GUIDANCE
290 </h3>
291 <p>
291 <a
href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/promoting-the-education-of-looked-after-children
" target="_blank" rel="noopener">
291 Promoting the Education of Looked After and Previously Looked After Children (DfE)
291 </a>
291 </p>
292 <h3>
292 RELATED CHAPTER
292 </h3>
293 <p>
293 <a href="p_app_role_iro.html">
293 Appointment and Role of Independent Reviewing Officers Procedure
293 </a>
293 </p>
294 <p>
294 For reviews in relation to children from overseas placed with Inter Country Adopters, see
294 <a href="p_inter_country_adop.html">
294 Inter Country Adoption Procedure
294 </a>
294 .
294 </p>
295 <p>
295 For reviews of prospective adopters approval, see
295 <a href="p_assess_approval.html">
295 Assessment and Approvals of Prospective Adopters Procedure
295 </a>
295 and
295 <a href="p_inter_country_adop.html">
295 Inter Country Adoption Procedure
295 </a>
295 .
295 </p>
296 <p>
296 For Disruption Meetings, after a Placement Breakdown, see
296 <a href="p_disrup_adopt_plac.html">
296 Disruption of Adoptive Placements Procedure
296 </a>
296 .
296 </p>
297 <h3>
297 AMENDMENT
297 </h3>
298 <p>
298 <a href="#Conduct_adopt_reviews">
298 Section 5, The Conduct of Adoption Reviews (bullet point 1.f)
298 </a>
298 was amended in April 2019 to reflect the status of adopted children as being 'previously looked
after' when considering their educational needs. A link to DfE guidance on Promoting the Education
of Looked After and Previously Looked After children was also added.
298 </p>
299 </div>
300 <div id="sections">
302 <h3 id="sections_list">
302 Contents
302 </h3>
303 <ol>
304 <li>
304 <a href="#Arrange_adopt_review">
304 Arrangements for Adoption Reviews
304 </a>
304 </li>
305 <li>
305 <a href="#Convene_and_chair">
305 Convening and Chairing Adoption Reviews
305 </a>
305 </li>
306 <li>
306 <a href="#Timescales">
306 Timescales for Adoption Reviews
306 </a>
306 </li>
307 <li>
307 <a href="#Report_adopt_rview">
307 Reports for Adoption Reviews
307 </a>
307 </li>
308 <li>
308 <a href="#Conduct_adopt_reviews">
308 The Conduct of Adoption Reviews
308 </a>
308 </li>
309 <li>
309 <a href="#After_adopt_order">
309 After an Adoption Order is Made
309 </a>
309 </li>
310 </ol>
311 <h3 id="Arrange_adopt_review">
311 1. Arrangements for Adoption Reviews
311 </h3>
312 <p>
312 Once an adoption agency has Authority to Place for Adoption, there is a requirement to review the
child's case under the Adoption Agencies Regulations 2005. Until the child is placed for adoption,
this runs alongside the requirement to hold a Looked After Review in relation to the child - see
312 <a href="p_look_aft_rev.html">
312 Looked After Reviews Procedure
312 </a>
312 .
312 </p>
313 <p>
313 The child's social worker should provide written information about the intended arrangements for
Adoption Reviews, to the child (depending on age and understanding), to the prospective adopters
(usually this will be part of the Adoption Placement Plan), and to any other person considered
relevant, such as the child's parents.
313 </p>
314 <h3 id="Convene_and_chair">
314 2. Convening and Chairing Adoption Reviews
314 </h3>
315 <p>
315 So far as reasonably practicable, all Adoption Reviews will be chaired by the child's Independent
Reviewing Officer.
315 </p>
316 <p>
316 The child's social worker, in conjunction with the Independent Reviewing Officer, will invite
relevant persons to Adoption Reviews.
316 </p>
317 <p>
317 There is no requirement to invite birth parents to Adoption Reviews or to consult them prior to a
Review, but the child's social worker, in conjunction with the Independent Reviewing Officer, may
consider that their views should be ascertained and reported to an Adoption Review or that the
parents should be invited in appropriate cases.
317 </p>
318 <h3 id="Timescales">
318 3. Timescales for Adoption Reviews
318 </h3>
319 <p>
319 The timescales for holding Adoption Reviews will depend on whether the child has been placed for
adoption.
319 </p>
320 <h4>
320 3.1 Adoption Reviews of children not yet placed for adoption
320 </h4>
321 <p>
321 Where the child has not been placed for adoption, arrangements must be made so that an Adoption
Review is held:
321 </p>
322 <ul>
323 <li>
323 No later than 3 months after authority to place the child for adoption has been obtained;
323 </li>
324 <li>
324 At least every 6 months thereafter until an adoptive placement is made.
324 </li>
325 </ul>
326 <h4>
326 3.2 Adoption Reviews of children who have been placed for adoption
326 </h4>
327 <p>
327 Where the child has been placed for adoption, arrangements must be made so that an Adoption Review
is held:
327 </p>
328 <ul>
329 <li>
329 Within 4 weeks of the placement;
329 </li>
330 <li>
330 Not more than 3 months after the first review unless an application for an adoption order has
been made;
330 </li>
331 <li>
331 At least every 6 months thereafter until an adoption order has been made or the adoptive
placement ends.
331 </li>
332 </ul>
333 <p>
333 Where there are concerns that the placement is at risk of breaking down, an Adoption Review must
be convened immediately. Where a placement breaks down, see
333 <a href="p_disrup_adopt_plac.html">
333 Disruption of Adoptive Placements Procedure
333 </a>
333 .
333 </p>
334 <p>
334 Where a placement has been made with parental consent and notice is received that such consent has
been withdrawn, a Review must be convened immediately and urgent legal advice should be taken as
to whether there are grounds for an application for an Emergency Protection Order/Interim Care
Order (if no Care Order exists) and/or a Placement Order.
334 </p>
335 <p>
335 Unless there are exceptional circumstances, for example child protection concerns and/or
significant risk, no decision to move a child from a placement shall take place without a formal
review having taken place. In such circumstances, legal advice should be sought as soon as
possible and prior to any action being taken.
335 </p>
336 <h4>
336 3.3 All Cases
336 </h4>
337 <p>
337 The child's social worker must inform the Independent Reviewing Officer of any failure to make
arrangements agreed at a review or any significant changes in the child's circumstances at a
review, so that a decision can be made as to the need to convene a further Review - see
337 <a href="p_app_role_iro.html">
337 Appointment and Role of Independent Reviewing Officers Procedure
337 </a>
337 .
337 </p>
338 <h3 id="Report_adopt_rview">
338 4. Reports for Adoption Reviews
338 </h3>
339 <p>
339 The child's social worker will prepare a report for the Adoption Review, incorporating the views
of the child, the prospective adopters and the prospective adopters' link worker (where the child
is placed), the birth parents or family members (in appropriate cases) and any other relevant
person (for example health visitor or teacher), which should be circulated prior to the meeting.
339 </p>
340 <h3 id="Conduct_adopt_reviews">
340 5. The Conduct of Adoption Reviews
340 </h3>
341 <ol>
342 <li>
342 The Adoption Review will consider the following areas:
343 <ol style="list-style-type:lower-alpha">
344 <li>
344 Whether it remains satisfied that the child should be placed for adoption;
344 </li>
345 <li>
345 The child's needs, welfare and development, and whether any changes need to be made to meet
the child's needs or assist his/her development;
345 </li>
346 <li>
346 Review the existing arrangements for contact and whether they should continue or be altered;
346 </li>
347 <li>
347 Where the child has been placed for adoption, the arrangements in relation to the exercise
of parental responsibility for the child and whether they should continue or be altered;
347 </li>
348 <li>
348 The arrangements for the provision of adoption support services for the adoptive family and
whether there should be any re-assessment of the need for those services;
348 </li>
349 <li>
349 In consultation with the appropriate agencies, the arrangements for assessing and meeting
the child's health care and educational needs as a previously looked after child (see
349 <a
href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/promoting-the-education-of-looked-after-chi
ldren" target="_blank" rel="noopener">
349 Promoting the Education of Looked After and Previously Looked After Children (DfE)
349 </a>
349 );
349 </li>
350 <li>
350 Any concerns;
350 </li>
351 <li>
351 Outstanding Court proceedings;
351 </li>
352 <li>
352 Where the child is placed for adoption, the timing of the adoption application;
352 </li>
353 <li>
353 The timing of the 'Later Life Letter' from the child's social worker being given to the
prospective adopter (this will usually be within 10 working days of the adoption ceremony,
i.e. the ceremony to celebrate the making of the adoption order);
353 </li>
354 <li>
354 The responsibility for providing Court reports;
354 </li>
355 <li>
355 The frequency of future reviews and the date for the next Review.
355 </li>
356 </ol>
357 </li>
358 <li>
358 Where the child is the subject of a Placement Order and has not been placed for adoption by the
time of the first six month Review, the Review must also:
359 <ol style="list-style-type:lower-roman">
360 <li>
360 Establish why the child has not been placed for adoption and consider what further steps it
should take to arrange for the child to be placed for adoption; and
360 </li>
361 <li>
361 Consider whether it remains satisfied that the child should be placed for adoption.
361 </li>
362 </ol>
363 </li>
364 <li>
364 The Independent Reviewing Officer must ensure that the views of the child are properly
understood by the Review and taken into account.
364 <br />
365 <br />
366 Where the child wishes to take proceedings on their own account, for example to apply for the
revocation of a Placement Order, the Independent Reviewing Officer must assist the child to
obtain legal advice or establish whether an appropriate adult is able and willing to provide
legal advice and/or bring the proceedings on the child's behalf.
366 <br />
367 <br />
368 The IRO should advise the child about his or her right to appoint an advocate where they have
problems or concerns;
368 </li>
369 <li>
369 The Independent Reviewing Officer must also ensure that anyone responsible for implementing a
decision taken at the review is identified, and that any failure to review the case or implement
decisions made at a Review is brought to the attention of senior managers within the agency;
369 </li>
370 <li>
370 Any decisions made at the Review should be notified in writing to the child (depending on age
and understanding), the prospective adopters (where the child has been placed for adoption) and
any other person considered relevant by the child's social worker and the Independent Reviewing
Officer, such as the birth parents;
370 </li>
371 <li>
371 The information obtained during an Adoption Review, any decisions made at the Review and the
minutes of any meeting arranged to consider any aspect of the Adoption Review must be placed on
the child's Adoption Case Record;
371 </li>
372 <li>
372 Where a child has been placed for adoption but not adopted within 12 months, the child's social
worker must present a further report to the Adoption Panel identifying the length of the delay,
the reasons and the steps being taken to address any difficulties;
372 </li>
373 <li>
373 Where an agency decision has been made to place a child for adoption but the child has not been
placed within 6 months, the child's social worker must present a further report to the Adoption
Panel identifying the length of the delay, the reasons and the steps being taken to address any
difficulties, including consideration of a review of the adoption plan and/or a possible change
to long- term fostering/separation of siblings.
373 </li>
374 </ol>
375 <h3 id="After_adopt_order">
375 6. After an Adoption Order is Made
375 </h3>
376 <p>
376 Once an Adoption Order is made, the child's social worker should complete the Adoption Case Record
and ensure that the necessary work has been undertaken to complete the adoption process. The
Adoption Case Record should then be closed and sent to the adoption service for safe storage
within 2 months of the Adoption Order being granted.
376 </p>
377 <p>
377 The computer recording system should also record the Adoption Order.
377 </p>
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