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18 Non Agency Adoption
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136 <h1>
136 Non Agency Adoption
136 </h1>
141 <div class="well">
142 <p class="bold">
142 SCOPE OF THIS CHAPTER
143 </p>
144 <p>
144 This procedure applies to applications in relation to adoptive placements that have not been
arranged by a local authority or registered adoption agency, other than children brought
into the UK for the purposes of adoption. This will include adoption applications by
step-parents, relatives, private foster carers or local authority foster carers who have not
sought or obtained the local authority's approval for the placement becoming an adoptive
placement.
144 </p>
145 <p>
145 In relation to such applications, the residence requirement are as follows:
145 </p>
146 <ul>
147 <li>
147 If the applicant or one of the applicants is the partner of the parent of the child, the
child must have lived with the applicants continuously for 6 months prior to the
application;
147 </li>
148 <li>
148 If the applicants are local authority foster carers, the child must have lived with the
applicants continuously for 12 months prior to the application;
148 </li>
149 <li>
149 In any other case, the child must have lived with the applicant(s) for 3 out of the last 5
years prior to the application or the Court must have granted leave for an earlier
application.
149 </li>
150 </ul>
151 <p>
151 For the procedure in relation to children who have been brought into the UK for the purposes
of adoption - see
151 <a href="p_inter_country_adop.html">
151 Inter Country Adoption Procedure
151 </a>
151 .
151 </p>
152 <p>
152 For the contents of the Court report for adoption applications, see
152 <a href="g_court_rept.html">
152 Court Reports in Placement Order Applications and Adoption/Special Guardianship Guidance
152 </a>
152 .
152 </p>
153 </div>
160 <div class="section">
161 <h2 id="contact">
161 1. Initial Contact
161 </h2>
162 <p>
162 Where residents of the local authority area request advice by letter, telephone or in person
in relation to a non-agency adoption, the matter should be referred to the Adoption Service
and a Referral Form should be completed and the enquirer should be offered general
information. This may be by telephone or an office interview may be arranged.
162 </p>
163 <p>
163 The prospective applicants should be offered information and advice on the adoption process
and the implications of adoption, including the following:
163 </p>
164 <ol style="list-style-type:lower-roman">
165 <li>
165 Alternatives to adoption;
165 </li>
166 <li>
166 The child's need to know that s/he is adopted and have information about the birth family;
166 </li>
167 <li>
167 The requirement for the consent of parents with Parental Responsibility to be obtained;
167 </li>
168 <li>
168 The role of CAFCASS;
168 </li>
169 <li>
169 The need to notify the local authority of their intention to apply for an Adoption Order.
169 </li>
170 </ol>
171 <p>
171 If it is clear that the applicants do not fulfil the criteria of Domicile / Habitual
Residence in the UK, the duty social worker should advise them to obtain legal advice.
171 </p>
172 <p>
172 When it is established that the family concerned wish to pursue adoption, the case should be
allocated to a social worker in the Adoption Service. The allocated worker must fulfil the
qualifications and experience criteria set out in
172 <a href="p_adop_panel.html#reports_adop">
172 Adoption Panel Procedure, Reports to Adoption Panel
172 </a>
172 </p>
173 <p>
173 Where a foster carer is making a non-agency application to adopt a Child in Care, with the
support of the local authority, the case will be allocated as soon as possible.
173 </p>
174 </div>
175 <div class="section1">
175 </div>
181 <div class="section">
182 <h2 id="notifications">
182 2. Notifications
182 </h2>
183 <p>
183 Applicants for adoption, in the case of non-agency placements, must notify the local
authority for the area where they live of their intention to apply for an Adoption Order.
The notification should be sent at least 3 months and not more than two years before the
date of the adoption application.
183 </p>
184 <p>
184 Any such notification received should be passed to the Adoption Service. The Adoption
Manager will arrange for the notification to be acknowledged and, if not already allocated,
allocate the case to a social worker. The allocated worker must fulfil the qualifications
and experience criteria set out in
184 <a href="p_adop_panel.html#reports_adop">
184 Adoption Panel Procedure, Reports to Adoption Panel
184 </a>
184 .
184 </p>
185 <p>
185 Upon receipt of the notification, the local authority will have a duty to supervise the
welfare of the child if the child is within the definition of Privately Fostered - see
185 <a href="#local_auth">
185 Section 5, Local Authority Duty to Supervise Child
185 </a>
185 .
185 </p>
186 <p>
186 An Adoption Case Record should be opened for the child or each of the children involved.
186 </p>
187 <p>
187 As soon as practicable after notification is received, the allocated social worker will
leave forms for the prospective adopters to complete for checks for all members of the
household aged 18 or over.
187 </p>
188 </div>
189 <div class="section1">
189 </div>
195 <div class="section">
195 <h2 id="med_info">
195 3. Medical Information
195 </h2>
196 <p>
196 Except where the application is by a step parent in which case a medical report is not
required, the social worker will check that the applicants(s) and the child have received a
medical examination before the adoption application is submitted.
196 </p>
197 <p>
197 If medical examinations are required, the social worker will provide the applicants with the
relevant CoramBAAF medical forms for completion. These should be submitted to the Court with
the adoption application and the Court will send copies to the local authority when a Court
report is requested. Upon receipt, the completed medical forms should be passed by the
social worker to the Medical Adviser for comment. These comments should then be included in
the Court report (see
197 <a href="#court_req_report">
197 Section 6, Court Request for Report
197 </a>
197 ).
197 </p>
198 </div>
199 <div class="section1">
199 </div>
205 <div class="section">
206 <h2 id="other">
206 4. Other Checks
206 </h2>
207 <p>
207 On receipt of the notification of intention to apply to adopt, the social worker should
arrange a Disclosure and Barring Service on the applicants and any member of the household
aged 18 or over. Forms should be left for the prospective adopters to complete as soon as
practicable after notification of an intention to adopt is received.
207 </p>
208 <p>
208 Consent should also be obtained for checks to be carried out with the local authority,
Probation and the health trust - and the necessary checks should be made.
208 </p>
209 </div>
210 <div class="section1">
210 </div>
216 <div class="section">
216 <h2 id="local_auth">
216 5. Local Authority Duty to Supervise Child
216 </h2>
217 <p>
217 On receipt of a notification in relation to a child who comes within the definition of
Privately Fostered, the social worker must supervise the child until an Adoption Order is
made in accordance with the
217 <a href="p_private_fost.html">
217 Private Fostering Procedure
217 </a>
217 , except that, where the child is already known to the local authority, the requirements
under the Private Fostering Regulations as to the initial visit to the placement will not
apply.
217 </p>
218 <p>
218 The aim of the supervision is:
218 </p>
219 <ul>
220 <li>
220 To ensure the child is well cared for and in receipt of appropriate health and education
services;
220 </li>
221 <li>
221 To support the prospective adopters and help them focus on the task of integrating the
child into their family and of providing the child with full information about their
background and birth family.
221 </li>
222 </ul>
223 <p>
223 All visits should be recorded, including whether the child was seen and if so, whether the
child was seen alone.
223 </p>
224 <p>
224 The social worker should advise the prospective adopters of the need for them to provide
medical reports on themselves and the child to accompany their adoption application (see
224 <a href="#med_info">
224 Section 3, Medical Information
224 </a>
224 ). The social worker should also attempt to obtain medical information on the birth parents
and a neonatal report on the child if under 5 years old. The social worker should send all
available medical information to the Medical Adviser for comment.
224 </p>
225 <p>
225 The social worker should ask the prospective adopters for the names of two personal
referees, whom the social worker should interview.
225 </p>
226 <p>
226 The child will continue to have the status of a privately fostered child until an Adoption
Order is made or until notification is given that the prospective applicants no longer
intend to apply to adopt.
226 </p>
227 <p>
227 Prospective applicants should be asked to clarify their intentions if there is a delay and
no adoption application is lodged. If this is not forthcoming, the social worker involved
should write to the prospective applicants indicating that unless confirmation is provided
of an intention to adopt, it will be assumed that the notification is withdrawn. In any
event, after 2 years the notification will lapse.
227 </p>
228 </div>
229 <div class="section1">
229 </div>
235 <div class="section">
235 <h2 id="court_req_report">
235 6. Court Request for Report
235 </h2>
236 <p>
236 Where a Court receives an adoption application in relation to a non-agency adoptive
placement, the Court will notify the local authority of the hearing date and request a
Report be prepared and submitted to the Court, usually within 6 weeks of the receipt of the
notification. The Court timescales should be clarified at an early stage and if more time is
required, a written request must be submitted to the Court as soon as the need for an
extension is identified.
236 </p>
237 <p>
237 The social worker responsible for the supervision of the child will be responsible for
preparing the Report, and for this purpose should gather available information on the child
and parents - see sections below.
237 </p>
238 <p>
238 The allocated worker must fulfil the qualifications and experience criteria set out in
238 <a href="p_adop_panel.html#reports_adop">
238 Adoption Panel Procedure, Reports to Adoption Panel
238 </a>
238 .
238 </p>
239 <p>
239 For the contents of the report, see
239 <a href="g_court_rept.html">
239 Court Reports in Placement Order Applications and Adoption/Special Guardianship Guidance
239 </a>
239 .
239 </p>
240 <p>
240 Once completed, the social worker should send the Court Report to the Adoption Service
Manager for approval so that it can be filed with the Court within the required timescale.
240 </p>
241 </div>
242 <div class="section1">
242 </div>
248 <div class="section">
249 <h2 id="parental">
249 7. Parental Consent
249 </h2>
250 <p>
250 The adoptive applicants will have to indicate in their adoption application whether or not
there is Parental Consent to the application. If the parents do not consent, it is for the
applicants to ask the Court to dispense with the agreement of the parent or parents.
250 </p>
251 <p>
251 The social worker preparing the report should attempt to interview both birth parents in
relation to the adoption application and ascertain their views. If the parents do not live
within a reasonable travelling distance, the social worker may request that a social worker
from the local authority for the area where the birth parents now live interview them.
251 </p>
252 <p>
252 The report should address the significance of the role played so far by the birth parents in
the child's life and the implications of an Adoption Order for any future parental role.
252 </p>
253 </div>
254 <div class="section1">
254 </div>
260 <div class="section">
261 <h2 id="wishes">
261 8. Child's Wishes and Feelings
261 </h2>
262 <p>
262 The social worker should speak to the child to ascertain their wishes and feelings in
relation to the adoption and report on these to the Court. Where the child is not aware of
the adoption application, the social worker should discuss with the adopters the best way to
address this so that the child's views can be obtained.
262 </p>
263 <p>
263 The discussion with the child should address any confusion on the part of the child in
relation to the implications of an Adoption Order for example where the adoptive applicant
is a relative.
263 </p>
264 </div>
265 <div class="section1">
265 </div>
271 <div class="section">
272 <h2 id="applicants">
272 9. The Applicants
272 </h2>
273 <p>
273 The report will need to comment on the strength and duration of any new family
relationships, particularly in the case of an adoption application by a step parent. Where
there is limited evidence of the strength and stability of the relationship, the applicants
should be advised to consider deferring the application until there is more evidence of
stability.
273 </p>
274 <p>
274 In addition, alternatives to adoption should be discussed and explored with the applicants,
who should be encouraged to consider them.
274 </p>
275 <p>
275 For example where the main concern is the child's name, the applicants should be advised to
seek legal advice on how to achieve this without the need for an adoption order.
275 </p>
276 </div>
277 <div class="section1">
277 </div>
283 <div class="section">
284 <h2 id="support">
284 10. Adoption Support
284 </h2>
285 <p>
285 Other than an application by a step parent, the social worker should consider the likely
need of the child and adoptive family for adoption support. See
285 <a href="p_adop_support.html">
285 Adoption Support Procedure
285 </a>
285 .
285 </p>
286 </div>
287 <div class="section1">
287 </div>
293 <div class="section">
294 <h2 id="alternatives">
294 11. Alternatives to Adoption
294 </h2>
295 <p>
295 The report should address any alternatives to adoption, which may offer a better framework
for the child and the birth parents' future role.
295 </p>
296 </div>
297 <div class="section1">
297 </div>
303 <div class="section">
304 <h2 id="hearing">
304 12. Adoption Hearing
304 </h2>
305 <p>
305 The social worker responsible for preparing the report should attend the adoption hearing.
305 </p>
306 </div>
307 <div class="section1">
307 </div>
313 <div class="section">
314 <h2 id="court">
314 13. After the Court Process
314 </h2>
315 <p>
315 Once the adoption proceedings are complete, the social worker should complete the child's
Adoption Case Record and arrange for its safe storage in the Adoption Archives.
315 </p>
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