(1)The Secretary of State may give directions requiring one or more named local authorities in England, or one or more descriptions of local authority in England, to make arrangements for all or any of their functions within subsection (3) to be carried out on their behalf by one or more other adoption agencies.
(2)The Secretary of State may by order require all local authorities in England to make arrangements for all or any of their functions within subsection (3) to be carried out on their behalf by one or more other adoption agencies
(3)The functions are their functions in relation to—
(a)the recruitment of persons as prospective adopters;
(b)the assessment of prospective adopters’ suitability to adopt a child;
(c)the approval of prospective adopters as suitable to adopt a child.]
Textual Amendments
F1S. 3A inserted (13.5.2014) by Children and Families Act 2014 (c. 6), ss. 4(1), 139(6) (with s. 4(3)); S.I. 2014/889, art. 5(a)