4.10.7 Review of Adoptive Placement


1.	Arrangements for the review of adoption placements must be made so that a review is held: Within 4 weeks of the placement Not more than 3 months after the first review unless an application for an adoption order has been made At least every 6 months thereafter until an adoption order has been made. Reviews should be held until an Adoption Order is made.
2.	The Adoption Review, including a review of the Adoption Support Plan, will be held under the Adoption Agencies Regulations 2005 and supersedes the requirement to hold a Looked After Review. The child’s social worker is responsible for convening the review and should ensure that all relevant parties - the child (if old enough), the prospective adopters, their link worker and any other person considered relevant after discussion with the Independent Reviewing Officer - are invited (see Paragraph 5). In relation to the child’s parents, although there is no requirement to invite the birth parents to attend and it may not be appropriate to do so, the Independent Reviewing Officer may ask the social worker to ascertain the parent’s wishes and include these in the report for the Review. Similarly with other relevant people, the Independent Reviewing Officer may ask the social worker to ascertain and report their views to the review rather than invite them to attend.
3.	Where there are concerns that the placement is at risk of breaking down or where a placement has been made with Parental Consent and notice is received that such consent has been withdrawn, a review meeting must be convened within a maximum of 3 working days. This review should be chaired wherever possible by an Independent Reviewing Officer. The review should consider and identify the difficulties and consider whether any support can be provided to address the situation. Unless there are exceptional circumstances, for example child protection concerns and/or risk of Significant Harm, 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. Where parental consent has been withdrawn, urgent legal advice should be taken as to whether an application should be made to the court for an order. This may be an application for an Emergency Protection Order, an Interim Care Order or a Placement Order depending on the circumstances.
4.	For all reviews, the child’s social worker must prepare a report, covering the areas listed in paragraph 6 below and incorporating the views of the child, the prospective adopters, the prospective adopters’ link worker, the birth parents or family members (in appropriate cases) and any other relevant person (see Paragraph 5). The report should be circulated to all invitees at least 24 hours prior to the meeting.
5.	As part of the Review, the Independent Reviewing Officer must as far as reasonably practicable ascertain the views of the child (having regard to his or her age and understanding), the prospective adopters and any other person the agency considers relevant. This will include the child’s parent or guardian where appropriate. Relevant others may be, for example, other children living in the prospective adopter’s home, anyone having contact with the child, the child’s health visitor, therapist or teacher.
6.	The review will consider and evaluate the adoption placement in terms of meeting the child’s needs and the objectives set at each review and in particular consider the following areas: The child’s Health Care Plan (including arrangements for the child’s medical and dental care) The child’s educational progress Any regression in the child’s development since the placement Evidence of the child’s attachment to the prospective adopters Observations of any grieving process in relation to the previous carers Any direct work being undertaken or required Any concerns The Adoption Support Plan and whether it should continue or be altered The arrangements for the exercise of Parental Responsibility in the placement and whether they should continue or be altered The contact arrangements and whether they should continue or be altered Any outstanding Court proceedings The timing of the adoption application The timing of the ‘Later in Life Letter’ from the social worker being given to the child Responsibility for providing Court reports Date for next review
7.	The Review will usually take place, with the agreement of the prospective adopters, at the adoptive home.
8.	The outcome of the review should be recorded by the Independent Reviewing Officer and sent to the child (depending on age), the child’s social worker, the prospective adopters and the Adoption Team. The child’s social worker must ensure that a record of the review is placed on the child’s Adoption Case Record. The child’s social worker and Independent Reviewing Officer should also consider whether and how to notify the parents of the outcome.
9.	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, including consideration of a review of the adoption plan and/or a possible change to long-term fostering/separation of siblings.
10.	The child’s social worker must notify the Independent Reviewing Officer immediately once an Adoption Order is made.
11.	Following the making of an Adoption Order, the child’s social worker must send any additional material to be included in the child’s Adoption Case Record to the Adoption Team. The Adoption Team will check the contents of the Adoption Case Record and when complete, close it and place it in safe storage within 2 months of the Adoption Order being granted. The computer recording system should also record the Adoption Order; the electronic database CLA Episodes.

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