Duties of an adoption agency and adoption panel functions in respect of a prospective adopter3

1

This regulation applies to —

a

a local authority6 to which a prospective adopter has applied for assessment in accordance with regulation 3(2)(a) of the 2001 Regulations; and

b

an approved adoption society7 which has agreed to assess a prospective adopter who has applied to it in accordance with that regulation.

2

The adoption agency8 shall assess a prospective adopter in accordance with regulations 8 (adoption agency’s duties in respect of a prospective adopter)9 and 8A (criminal convictions of a prospective adopter10) of the 1983 Regulations.

3

An adoption panel to which the case of a prospective adopter is referred shall consider the case and make a recommendation to the referring adoption agency as to whether the prospective adopter is suitable to be an adoptive parent, in accordance with regulation 10 (adoption panel functions) 11 of the 1983 Regulations.

4

The adoption agency shall —

a

make a decision as to the suitability of the prospective adopter to be an adoptive parent and notify the prospective adopter of the decision, in accordance with regulation 11A (adoption agency decisions and notifications - prospective adopters)12 of the 1983 Regulations; and

b

where the agency has decided to approve the prospective adopter as suitable to be an adoptive parent, notify the National Assembly for Wales in writing of that decision and provide to it —

i

all information considered by the adoption panel before making a recommendation to the agency as to whether the prospective adopter is suitable to be an adoptive parent; and

ii

such other information relating to the prospective adopter’s case as it may require.