4.10.11 Procedure for Prospective Adopters Attending Panel |
Contents
1. General Principles
In line with the Adoption and Children Act 2002 and Adoption Agency Regulations 2005 the agency is required to offer the opportunity for Prospective Adopters to attend a meeting of the Panel before it makes a recommendation about their suitability to adopt. The purpose of this meeting is to provide an opportunity for both the Panel and the prospective adopters to discuss and clarify the prospective adopters reasons for wishing to adopt and any other matters that either party considers relevant to the application.
Clearly the Panel is required to come to an objective decision based on all the available information and the attendance at the Panel cannot outweigh all the other evidence presented. As this will include the views of third parties it will therefore not be appropriate for the Prospective Adopters to attend for all the Panel discussion of the application.
In line with many other local authorities, Luton Borough Council has decided to invite Prospective Adopters to attend Panel when a matching is to be considered. The adopters will be invited to express their motivation to adopt a particular child, and discuss any issues, which arise. The purpose of adopters attending is that there should be transparency in the process and they should have the right to be party to this very major decision. For the Panel, in the light of adoption support legislation it gives the opportunity to be reassured that the adopters are aware of the issues now and in the future. However, the recommendation Panel reaches is based on the written information presented to Panel, if Panel feels new information or information that has not been fully assessed by the Social Worker is being presented during the meeting, they may not be able to reach a recommendation.
Some Prospective Adopters may choose not to attend Panel and it is important to convey to them that no negative implications will be made about their non-attendance. Prospective Adopters should be informed of the Panel recommendation on the same day. They could be given the choice of waiting to be informed after the Panel discussion, or if they choose to go home after their attendance, be telephoned by their Social Worker following the Panel recommendation. The literature given to them will make clear the difference between the Panel recommendation and the Panel decision.
Single Prospective Adopters could be given the opportunity of asking a supporter to accompany them, however the applicant will need to consider in advance issues of confidentiality that may arise during the discussion. It would not be expected that the supporter takes part in the discussion nor is it open for Prospective Adopters to be accompanied by a representative or lawyer.
An information leaflet detailing the process and containing profiles of Panel members should be made available to Prospective Adopters attending and a feedback form evaluating the experience.
2. Procedure
- When Prospective Adopters arrive they should be personally greeted by the Social Worker representing the authority.
- The Prospective Adopters Social Worker and the worker for the child and in some cases the family finder in the case of a match will join Panel, which will identify the areas for further discussion: legal and medical advice will be shared at this point. The Social Worker will be asked to help identify questions that the Prospective Adopters can be asked.
- The Chair of the Panel will leave the room to meet the Prospective Adopters or adopters and the couple will be invited to the Panel for discussion and any matters they wish to raise.
Panel may wish to have further discussion with the Social Worker present, after the applicant or adopters have left the room, before reaching their recommendation.
The Panel Chair, in some cases accompanied by the Panel Adviser, and the couples Social Worker will convey the recommendation if the applicant or adopters have chosen to stay. If they have left their Social Worker will contact them by telephone later the same day.
3. Venue
When it is possible a waiting room will be arranged away from the main seating area. If adopters have a mobility disability an alternative venue may be sought.
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