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282 <h2>
282 Intermediary Services
282 </h2>
284 </div>
287 <div id="scope_box">
288 <h3>
288 SCOPE OF THIS CHAPTER
288 </h3>
289 <p>
289 This applies only to adoption orders made before 30 December 2005.
289 </p>
290 </div>
291 <div id="sections">
293 <h3 id="sections_list">
293 Contents
293 </h3>
294 <ol>
295 <li>
295 <a href="#intro">
295 Introduction
295 </a>
295 </li>
296 <li>
296 <a href="#what_intermed">
296 What are Intermediary Services?
296 </a>
296 </li>
297 <li>
297 <a href="#who_may_apply">
297 Who May Apply for Intermediary Services?
297 </a>
297 </li>
298 <li>
298 <a href="#proc_accept">
298 Receipt of Applications
298 </a>
298 </li>
299 <li>
299 <a href="#contacting">
299 Contacting the Appropriate Adoption Agency
299 </a>
299 </li>
300 <li>
300 <a href="#deciding_app">
300 Deciding Whether to Proceed with the Application
300 </a>
300 </li>
301 <li>
301 <a href="#proc_dealing">
301 Procedure for Dealing with Accepted Applications
301 </a>
301 </li>
302 </ol>
303 <h3 id="intro">
303 1. Introduction
303 </h3>
304 <p>
304 On 30 December 2005, legislation came into force assisting persons adopted before that date to
obtain information about their adoption and to facilitate contact between them and their birth
relatives.
304 </p>
305 <p>
305 With effect from 31 October 2014, further legislation extended this to persons having a Prescribed
Relationship with an adopted person. This will include all relatives of adopted adults, from
children and grandchildren to civil partners and adoptive relatives. Intermediary agencies may
accept applications from a person with a Prescribed Relationship to an adopted person for
assistance in contacting a relative of an adopted person and vice versa. This allows, for example,
descendants to obtain information about family medical history in relation to inherited diseases.
305 </p>
306 <h3 id="what_intermed">
306 2. What are Intermediary Services?
306 </h3>
307 <p>
307 Intermediary services are defined as:
307 </p>
308 <ul>
309 <li>
309 Assisting adopted persons who were adopted before 30th December 2005 and are 18 or over, to
obtain information in relation to their adoption;
309 </li>
310 <li>
310 Facilitating contact between such adopted persons and their relatives; and
310 </li>
311 <li>
311 Facilitating contact between persons with a Prescribed Relationship to an adopted person and
relatives of the adopted person.
311 </li>
312 </ul>
313 <p>
313 Local authorities do not have a statutory duty to provide such a service but where they do so, the
Regulatory Authority should be notified.
313 </p>
314 <p>
314 Intermediary agencies and those involved in providing information to such agencies may charge a
fee.
314 </p>
315 <p>
315 In all cases, the provision of an intermediary service involves:
315 </p>
316 <ol>
317 <li>
317 Establishing that the applicant/subject/adopted person are 18 or over;
317 </li>
318 <li>
318 Undertaking preparatory work with the applicant, including the provision of information about
the available services and the possible impact of using them, including the Adoption Contact
Register and qualified and absolute vetoes;
318 </li>
319 <li>
319 Obtaining information from a range of sources (adoption agencies, the Registrar General, the
Courts);
319 </li>
320 <li>
320 Using the information to trace and contact individuals;
320 </li>
321 <li>
321 Obtaining the relevant informed consent;
321 </li>
322 <li>
322 If consent has been obtained, disclosing to the applicant in appropriate cases the information
obtained by the intermediary agency;
322 </li>
323 <li>
323 Acting as an intermediary between the parties, and facilitating contact/information-sharing
between them;
323 </li>
324 <li>
324 Providing counselling, support and advice to the parties about the process.
324 </li>
325 </ol>
326 <h3 id="who_may_apply">
326 3. Who May Apply for Intermediary Services?
326 </h3>
327 <p>
327 Provided that the applicant/subject/adopted person are aged 18 or over, an intermediary agency may
accept an application from:
327 </p>
328 <ul>
329 <li>
329 An adopted person for assistance in contacting a relative of his;
329 </li>
330 <li>
330 A relative of an adopted person for assistance in contacting;
331 <ul>
332 <li>
332 The adopted person; or
332 </li>
333 <li>
333 A person with a Prescribed Relationship to the adopted person; or
333 </li>
334 </ul>
335 </li>
336 <li>
336 A person with a Prescribed Relationship to an adopted person for assistance in contacting a
relative of an adopted person.
336 </li>
337 </ul>
338 <p>
338 The Adoption Service will consider applications from residents of the local authority area or
where the adoption was arranged by their service or where the Adoption Case Record is held by the
service.
338 </p>
339 <h3 id="proc_accept">
339 4. Receipt of Applications
339 </h3>
340 <p>
340 Where an application is made, the Adoption Service will first verify the identity and age of the
applicant through the production of the person's passport, driving licence or birth/adoption
certificate; and that the subject/adopted person is also an adult. The agency must also verify the
identity of any person acting on behalf of the applicant and that he or she has the authority to
do so.
340 </p>
341 <p>
341 The agency must also verify the relationship with the adopted person.
341 </p>
342 <p>
342 All verified applications for intermediary services must be passed to the Adoption Service
Manager, who will decide whether the application can be accepted.
342 </p>
343 <p>
343 Where an application is accepted, applicants must be informed in writing of the likely scale of
charges that will apply and asked to confirm their wish to proceed on this basis.
343 </p>
344 <p>
344 Where the applicant confirms a wish to proceed, the case should be allocated to a social worker
from the Adoption Service.
344 </p>
345 <p>
345 Where an application is not accepted, the applicant must be informed in writing of the reasons and
advised about the contact details of other agencies which may be in a position to help them.
345 </p>
346 <h3 id="contacting">
346 5. Contacting the Appropriate Adoption Agency
346 </h3>
347 <p>
347 Where the intermediary agency is not the adoption agency that arranged the adoption, the allocated
social worker must take steps to identify the relevant adoption agency by making enquiries of the
Registrar General.
347 </p>
348 <p>
348 If the Registrar General does not hold the information, s/he will provide details of the Court
which made the Adoption Order. The allocated social worker must then make enquiries of the Court
and the local authority for the area where the Adoption Order was made with a view to identifying
the adoption agency involved.
348 </p>
349 <p>
349 In making the above enquiries to identify the relevant adoption agency, the allocated social
worker may provide sufficient information to the Registrar General, Court and relevant local
authority, including identifying information about the applicant and the subject, to enable them
to properly check their records.
349 </p>
350 <p>
350 Where the adoption agency is identified, enquiries must be made of that agency to establish if a
Veto has been registered by the adopted person and/or if the adopted person has ever registered
their views as to any future contact with any birth relative; any future contact between people
with a Prescribed Relationship to him/her and his/her relatives, or being approached with regard
to such contact. The intermediary agency must take account of those views in deciding whether to
proceed with the application.
350 </p>
351 <p>
351 The intermediary agency must also seek from the adoption agency any other information required for
the following purposes:
351 </p>
352 <ul>
353 <li>
353 Tracing the adopted person and, where the adopted person is not the subject, any other subject;
353 </li>
354 <li>
354 Enabling the adopted person to make an informed decision as to whether s/he consents to:
355 <ul>
356 <li>
356 The disclosure of identifying information about him/her;
356 </li>
357 <li>
357 An application proceeding to facilitate contact between a relative and a person with a
Prescribed Relationship; or
357 </li>
358 <li>
358 Contact with the applicant.
358 </li>
359 </ul>
360 </li>
361 <li>
361 Enabling any other subject to make an informed decision as to whether s/he consents to:
362 <ul>
363 <li>
363 The disclosure of identifying information about him/her; or
363 </li>
364 <li>
364 Contact with the applicant.
364 </li>
365 </ul>
366 </li>
367 <li>
367 Counselling the subject and, where they are not the subject, the adopted person in relation to
that decision; and
367 </li>
368 <li>
368 Counselling the applicant.
368 </li>
369 </ul>
370 <p>
370 The intermediary agency must also establish the adoption agency's views on the application and the
proposed contact between the applicant and the subject. The adoption agency's views must be taken
into account by the intermediary agency before deciding whether to proceed with the application.
370 </p>
371 <p>
371 Where the adoption agency cannot be identified or the adoption agency is not able to provide
sufficient information to trace the subject, the allocated social worker may seek additional
information from the Registrar General, for example any information held on the Adoption Contact
Register or a certificate from the Adopted Children Register or, in order to establish the
post-adoption identity of the adopted person, any information which links an entry in the Register
of Births to an entry in the Adopted Children Register.
371 </p>
372 <h3 id="deciding_app">
372 6. Deciding Whether to Proceed with the Application
372 </h3>
373 <h4>
373 6.1 No Obligation to Proceed if not Appropriate
373 </h4>
374 <p>
374 There is no obligation to proceed if it would not be appropriate to do so, and there is a
discretion as to whether to continue with the application. In deciding whether to proceed, regard
must be had to the welfare of the applicant, the subject of the application, the adopted person,
and any other person who may be identified or otherwise affected by the application, together with
all the other circumstances of the case.
374 </p>
375 <p>
375 If, at any time, the intermediary agency ascertains that the subject of an application is under
the age of 18, it must not proceed further with the application.
375 </p>
376 <h4>
376 6.2 Restrictions on Proceeding with an Application
376 </h4>
377 <h5>
377 6.2.1 Application from a Relative of an Adopted Person for Assistance in Contacting the Adopted
Person
377 </h5>
378 <ul>
379 <li>
379 Must not proceed if a Veto applies, except where the circumstances are within the scope of a
qualified veto;
379 </li>
380 <li>
380 The intermediary agency must not disclose to the applicant any identifying information about the
subject without the subject's consent, unless the subject has died or is incapable of giving
informed consent.
380 </li>
381 </ul>
382 <p>
382 All reasonable steps must be taken to ensure that the adopted person has sufficient information to
make an informed decision.
382 </p>
383 <h5>
383 6.2.2 Application from a Relative of an Adopted Person for Assistance in Contacting a Person with
a Prescribed Relationship to the Adopted Person
383 </h5>
384 <p>
384 Must not proceed if:
384 </p>
385 <ul>
386 <li>
386 A Veto applies, except where the circumstances are within the scope of a qualified veto;
386 </li>
387 <li>
387 The adopted person does not consent to the application proceeding, unless:
388 <ul>
389 <li>
389 The adopted person has died; or
389 </li>
390 <li>
390 The intermediary agency determines that the adopted person is incapable of giving informed
consent.
390 </li>
391 </ul>
392 </li>
393 </ul>
394 <p>
394 All reasonable steps must be taken to ensure that the adopted person has sufficient information to
make an informed decision.
394 </p>
395 <h5>
395 6.2.3 Application from a Person with a Prescribed Relationship to an Adopted Person for Assistance
in Contacting a Relative of the Adopted Person
395 </h5>
396 <p>
396 Must not proceed if the adopted person does not consent to the application proceeding, unless:
396 </p>
397 <ul>
398 <li>
398 The adopted person has died;
398 </li>
399 <li>
399 The intermediary agency determines that the adopted person is incapable of giving informed
consent;
399 </li>
400 <li>
400 All reasonable steps have been taken to locate the adopted person, but they cannot be found;
400 </li>
401 <li>
401 The applicant is:
402 <ul>
403 <li>
403 Either the spouse, child, grandchild or great grandchild of the adopted person; and
403 </li>
404 <li>
404 Is seeking to contact the relative of the adopted person only to obtain information about
the medical history of the adopted person's relatives; and
404 </li>
405 <li>
405 No information is disclosed which would enable the adopted person, any relative of the
adopted person or any person with a prescribed relationship to the adopted person to be
identified or traced.
405 </li>
406 </ul>
407 </li>
408 </ul>
409 <p>
409 All reasonable steps must be taken to ensure that the adopted person has sufficient information to
make an informed decision.
409 </p>
410 <p>
410 <span class="bold">
410 Where the Subject/Adopted Person has Died
410 </span>
410 </p>
411 <p>
411 Where it is discovered that the subject of the application/the adopted person has died, the
allocated social worker should obtain the views of the next of kin and other family members before
a decision is made whether to disclose any identifying information. The decision should take
account of their views and have regard to their welfare.
411 </p>
412 <p>
412 <span class="bold">
412 Where the Subject/Adopted Person Cannot Give Informed Consent
412 </span>
412 </p>
413 <p>
413 Where it is discovered that the subject of the application/the adopted person cannot give informed
consent for example because of a learning difficulty, the allocated social worker should obtain
the views of other family members and other significant people involved with the subject before a
decision is made whether to disclose the identifying information. The decision should take account
of their views and have regard to their welfare.
413 </p>
414 <h4>
414 6.3 Discretion to Disclose Non-Identifying Information
414 </h4>
415 <p>
415 Notwithstanding a Veto preventing a birth relative making contact with the adopted person, or an
absence of consent, the intermediary agency may decide to pass non-identifying information to the
applicant where the circumstances of the case justify it. This may include information about the
subject's family circumstances, general health or well being, but
415 <span class="bold">
415 must not include
415 </span>
415 information by which the subject can be identified.
415 </p>
416 <p>
416 In exceptional circumstances, the birth relative may apply to the High Court for an Order allowing
the disclosure of identifying information held by the Registrar General.
416 </p>
417 <h3 id="proc_dealing">
417 7. Procedure for Dealing with Accepted Applications
417 </h3>
418 <h4>
418 7.1 Provision of counselling
418 </h4>
419 <p>
419 Where an application is accepted, the allocated social worker must provide written information
about the availability of counselling to:
419 </p>
420 <ul>
421 <li>
421 The applicant;
421 </li>
422 <li>
422 The subject of an application who is considering whether to consent to disclosure of information
about him/herself to the applicant; or
422 </li>
423 <li>
423 An adopted person considering whether to consent to an application proceeding.
423 </li>
424 </ul>
425 <p>
425 This will include information about agencies that provide counselling in the relevant area and any
fees which may apply.
425 </p>
426 <p>
426 Where the applicant indicates a wish to receive counselling, the allocated social worker must
ensure that the person receives the counselling, which may be through another agency. Where
another agency is used, the allocated social worker should ensure that the counsellor will have
the necessary skills and experience to do so.
426 </p>
427 <p>
427 Where a referral is made to another agency, the allocated social worker should then provide the
agency carrying out the counselling with sufficient information about the applicant and/or the
subject to enable the counselling to be beneficial.
427 </p>
428 <h4>
428 7.2 Applications by Adopted Adults
428 </h4>
429 <p>
429 Where an adopted adult applies for an intermediary service, they may request the adoption agency
to obtain the tracing information on their behalf and approach the adult birth relative.
Alternatively they may have carried out the research already and traced the relative - adopted
adults at the age of 18 have the right to apply to the Registrar General for the information
needed to obtain a copy of their original birth records and may also apply for access to their
Adoption Case Record - see
429 <a href="p_acc_adop_recs.html">
429 Access to Birth Records and Adoption Case Records Procedure
429 </a>
429 . In these circumstances they may request that the first contact is made by the agency.
429 </p>
430 <h4>
430 7.3 Applications by Relatives
430 </h4>
431 <p>
431 Applications may be received from a relative of an adopted person for assistance in contacting:
431 </p>
432 <ul>
433 <li>
433 The adopted person; or
433 </li>
434 <li>
434 A person with a Prescribed Relationship to the adopted person.
434 </li>
435 </ul>
436 <p>
436 Where an adult relative applies for an intermediary service, the allocated social worker should
request information from the applicant to enable the current identity of the relevant adopted
adult/persons with a Prescribed Relationship to them, to be established. The allocated social
worker should then take any steps required to trace them, including contacting other adoption
agencies and/or the Registrar General.
436 </p>
437 <h4>
437 7.4 Applications by Persons Having a Prescribed Relationship to the Adopted Person
437 </h4>
438 <p>
438 Applications may be received from:
438 </p>
439 <ul>
440 <li>
440 A relative of an adopted person for assistance in contacting a person with a Prescribed
Relationship to the adopted person; or
440 </li>
441 <li>
441 A person with a Prescribed Relationship to an adopted person for assistance in contacting a
relative of an adopted person.
441 </li>
442 </ul>
443 <p>
443 The allocated social worker should request information from the applicant to enable the current
identity of the relevant relative of the adopted person/persons with a Prescribed Relationship to
the adopted person, to be established. The allocated social worker should then take any steps
required to trace them, including contacting other adoption agencies and/or the Registrar General.
443 </p>
444 <h4>
444 7.5 Confidentiality
444 </h4>
445 <p>
445 Information obtained or held by the intermediary agency must be treated as confidential, but the
agency may disclose such information (including identifying information) as is necessary:
445 </p>
446 <ul>
447 <li>
447 To the Registrar General or to the court for the purpose of identifying the appropriate adoption
agency;
447 </li>
448 <li>
448 To the appropriate adoption agency for the purposes of ascertaining its views or seeking
information;
448 </li>
449 <li>
449 To the subject to enable him/her to make an informed decision on disclosure of information;
449 </li>
450 <li>
450 To a person providing counselling in connection with an application;
450 </li>
451 <li>
451 To the adopted person to enable him/her to make an informed decision about whether to consent to
an application proceeding.
451 </li>
452 </ul>
453 <h4>
453 7.6 Discontinuance
453 </h4>
454 <p>
454 Just as, upon receipt of an application, there is no obligation to proceed if it would not be
appropriate to do so, there is an ongoing discretion as to whether to continue with the
application. In deciding whether to continue, regard must be had to the welfare of the applicant,
the subject of the application, the adopted person, and any other person who may be identified or
otherwise affected by the application, together with all the other circumstances of the case.
454 </p>
455 <h4>
455 7.7 Offence
455 </h4>
456 <p>
456 An intermediary agency that discloses information in contravention of the regulations is guilty of
an offence and liable to a fine.
456 </p>
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