The Adoption Agencies Regulations 1983

Adoption agency's duties in respect of a prospective adopter

8.—(1) When an adoption agency is considering whether a person may be suitable to be an adoptive parent, either—

(a) it shall—

(i) provide a counselling service for him,

(ii) explain to him the legal implications of and procedures in relation to adoption, and

(iii) provide him with written information about the matters referred to in head (ii), or

(b) it shall satisfy itself that the requirements of sub-paragraph (a) have been carried out in respect of him by another adoption agency.

(2) Where, following the procedure referred to in paragraph (1), an adoption agency considers that a person may be suitable to be an adoptive parent, it shall—

(a) set up a case record in respect of him and place on it any information obtained by virtue of this regulation,

(b) obtain such particulars as are referred to in Part VI of the Schedule together with, so far as is reasonably practicable, any other relevant information which may be requested by the adoption panel,

(c) obtain a written report by a registered medical practitioner on the prospective adopter's health which shall deal with the matters specified in Part VII of the Schedule, unless such a report has been made within six months before the setting up of the case record under sub-paragraph (a) and is available to the agency,

(d) obtain a written report in respect of any premises which that person intends to use as his home if he adopts a child,

(e) obtain written reports of the interviews with two persons nominated by the prospective adopter to provide personal references for him,

(f) obtain a written report from the prospective adopter's local authority in relation to him, and

(g) prepare a written report containing the agency's observations on the matters referred to in this regulation, which shall be passed together with all information obtained by it by virtue of this regulation to the adoption panel or to another adoption agency.