Part 1

Adoption
Chapter 2

The Adoption Service

The Adoption Service

Adoption support agencies
8
1
In this Act, “adoption support agency” means an undertaking the purpose of which, or one of the purposes of which, is the provision of adoption support services; but an undertaking is not an adoption support agency—
a
merely because it provides information in connection with adoption other than for the purpose mentioned in section 98(1), or
b
if it is excepted by virtue of subsection (2).
- “Undertaking” has the same meaning as in the Care Standards Act 2000 (c. 14).
2
The following are excepted—
a
a registered adoption society, whether or not the society is registered in respect of the provision of adoption support services,
b
a local authority,
c
a local education authority (within the meaning of the Education Act 1996 (c. 56)),
d
a Special Health Authority, Primary Care Trust (in Wales, a Health Authority or Local Health Board) or NHS trust,
e
the Registrar General,
f
any person, or description of persons, excepted by regulations.
3
In section 4 of the Care Standards Act 2000 (basic definitions)—
a
after subsection (7) there is inserted—
7A
“Adoption support agency” has the meaning given by section 8 of the Adoption and Children Act 2002.
,
b
in subsection (9)(a) (construction of references to descriptions of agencies), for “or a voluntary adoption agency” there is substituted “a voluntary adoption agency or an adoption support agency”.