(1)It is the duty of every local authority to establish and maintain within their area a service designed to meet the needs, in relation to adoption, of—
(a)children who have been or may be adopted,
(b)parents and guardians of such children, and
(c)persons who have adopted or may adopt a child,
and for that purpose to provide the requisite facilities, or secure that they are provided by [F1approved adoption societies][F1appropriate voluntary organisations].
(2)The facilities to be provided as part of the service maintained under subsection (1) include—
(a)temporary board and lodging where needed by pregnant women, mothers or children;
(b)arrangements for assessing children and prospective adopters, and placing children for adoption;
(c)counselling for persons with problems relating to adoption.
(3)The facilities of the service maintained under subsection (1) shall be provided in conjunction with the local authority’s other social services and with [F2approved adoption societies][F2appropriate voluntary organisations] in their area, so that help may be given in a co-ordinated manner without duplication, omission or avoidable delay.
F3[(3A)In this Part, references to adoption are to the adoption of children, wherever they may be habitually resident, effected under the law of any country or territory, whether within or outside the British Islands.]
(4)The services maintained by local authorities under subsection (1) may be collectively referred to as “the Adoption Service”, and a local authority or [F4approved adoption societies][F4appropriate voluntary organisation] may be referred to as an adoption agency.
[F5(5)In this Act “appropriate voluntary organisation” means a voluntary organisation which is an adoption society in respect of which a person is registered under Part II of the Care Standards Act 2000.]
Textual Amendments
F1Words in s. 1(1) substituted (30.1.2003 for W.) by Care Standards Act 2000 (c. 14), s. 122, Sch. 4 para. 5(2)(a); S.I. 2003/152, art. 2(1)(d)
F2Words in s. 1(3) substituted (30.1.2003 for W.) by Care Standards Act 2000 (c. 14), s. 122, Sch. 4 para. 5(2)(a); S.I. 2003/152, art. 2(1)(d)
F3S. 1(3A) inserted (30.4.2001) by 1999 c. 18, s. 9; S.I. 2001/1279, art. 2
F4Words in s. 1(4) substituted (30.1.2003 for W.) by Care Standards Act 2000 (c. 14), s. 122, Sch. 4 para. 5(2)(a); S.I. 2003/152, art. 2(1)(d)
F5S. 1(5) inserted (30.1.2003 for W., 24.2.2003 for E. for specified purposes, 30.4.2003 in so far as not already in force) by Care Standards Act 2000 (c. 14), s. 122, Sch. 4 para. 5(2)(b); S.I. 2003/152, art. 2(1)(d); S.I. 2003/365, art. 3(5)(c)
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1S. 1(1) extended (10.3.2003 for E. for specified purposes, 6.10.2003 for E. in so far as not already in force) by Adoption and Children Act 2002 (c. 38), s. 148(1), Sch. 4 para. 3(1) (with Sch. 4 paras. 6-8); S.I. 2003/366, art. 2(2)(a),(6)(a)