3.10.1 Adoption and Permanency Panel

AMENDMENTS

This chapter was amended in August 2011 to take account of the Adoption Statutory Guidance (issued in February 2011). The main changes relate to the membership of the Adoption and Permanency Panel in Section 9, Adoption and Permanency Panel protocol. The changes in the chapter are highlighted for ease of reference.

Prospective Adopters
Prospective Long Term Foster Carers
The Child
Adoption From Overseas
Step Parent/Civil Partner Adoption
Independent Fostering Agencies
Inter-agency Placements
Adoption and Permanency Panel Procedures
Adoption and Permanency Panel Protocol
Presenting Cases to Panel
Applicants’ Attendance at Panel
Post Placement/Post Adoption Services
Appeals Procedure - Long Term Foster Carers and Adopters
Relatives as Long Term Foster Carers or Adopters
Adoption Records

1. Prospective Adopters

1.1 Single or Joint Applications

Applications will be considered from couples or single people. In the case of couples, there is no requirement that they are married and applications can be considered from same sex couples. There is no minimum requirement on the length of the relationship, but the Panel will need to be satisfied about its stability.

1.2 Religion

Applications will be considered from people of any or no religious persuasion.

1.3 Race

Applications will be considered from people of any race or culture.

1.4 Age

The minimum age for adopters is 21 years.

There is no specific maximum age limit. The applicants’ suitability will depend on the type of resource they are offering; it is expected that the age difference between a child and the adoptive parents will fall within the usual biological limits and will be based on the needs of the child, and take account of the wishes of the child and the wishes of the birth parents.

1.5 Gender

Application will be considered from people of either sex.

1.6 Sexual Orientation

Applications will be considered from people of any sexual orientation.

1.7 Employment

Applicants do not need to be in full-time employment and no one will be excluded solely on the grounds that they are unemployed. If both applicants work full-time and intend to continue to work full-time, this may affect the age of child they could be considered for.

1.8 Health

Applicants will be required to have a full medical and undergo any further tests/checks that may be required by the Adoption Panel Medical Advisor.

Smokers will generally not be considered for children under the age of 10 years or children with chest or heart conditions. However, individual consideration will be given to those applicants actively seeking to give up smoking, taking into account the individual’s child’s needs.

1.9 Criminal Convictions

Anyone who has been cautioned or convicted of an offence against or involving a child, including a specified offence under the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000, will be precluded from applying.

Other convictions will not necessarily preclude an application, but this will depend on the seriousness of the offence and how long ago it was committed. The Team Manager, Adoption and Fostering, will make the decision to accept or reject applications, but in cases of doubt or dispute, the matter will be referred to the Panel and a decision will be made on the basis of the Panel’s recommendation.

1.10 Fertility Tests/Treatment

Childless couples wishing to adopt a baby or a young child, will be required to have completed fertility tests and treatment, before an application can be accepted, unless there is an established reason for infertility or people have chosen not to have children of their own.

1.11 Domicile/Habitual Residence in the United Kingdom

Applicants do not have to have British Citizenship, but should be domiciled or have been habitually resident in the British Isles for the last 12 months. In the case of domestic adopters, where there is a joint application, either one of the applicants must be domiciled in the British Isles or both must fulfil the habitually residence requirements.

Where there is doubt, potential applicants should be asked to seek independent advice.

1.12 Adoption of a Second Baby/Child

Applications will be accepted from people wishing to adopt a second child, subject to paragraph 4.2.

1.13 Location

There are no geographical restrictions on where potential applicants should live provided it is within a reasonable travelling distance; however, potential applicants should be aware that, for the children who the borough is likely to place for adoption, placements outside the borough will often be required.

1.14 Employees

Applications to adopt will not be accepted from employees of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames Education and Children's Services. The Adoption and Permanency Team will however, offer advice and/or counselling to employees.

1.15 Contact

All prospective adopters will be expected to meet birth parents of any child they are considering adopting, if the parent(s) request such a meeting, unless the Department considers it is against the best interests of the child.

1.16 Preparation Groups

All prospective adopters will be expected to attend preparation groups, before their application is presented to Panel. The only exception to this will be if the applicants are relatives of the child being adopted.

1.17 Applicants attendance at Panel

All applicants will be invited and actively encouraged to attend Panel, when their application is being considered. The decision about attendance rests with the applicants and a wish not to attend will not prejudice fair consideration of an application.

1.18 Post Placement/Post Adoption Contact

Prospective adopters will be expected to comply with arrangements for post placement/post adoption contact with the child’s birth family, where the Department considers it is in the child’s best interests for such contact to take place.

1.19 Referees

Applicants will be asked to supply the names and addresses of three referees, one of whom should be a relative. Referees should be people who know the applicants well and in the case of a couple, know both applicants. It is desirable that referees have direct experience of caring for children, either in a personal or professional capacity.

1.20 Adoption from Overseas

See Section 4, Adoption from Overseas and Assessment and Approval of Inter Country Adoptive Parents Procedure

2. Prospective Long Term Foster Carers

2.1 Marital Status

Applications will be considered from married couples, unmarried couples or single people. In the case of married couples, there is no minimum requirement on the length of the marriage. In all cases however, the Panel will need to be satisfied about the stability of the relationship.

2.2 Religion

Applications will be considered from people of any or no religious persuasion.

2.3 Race

Application will be considered from people of any race or culture

2.4 Age

The minimum age for long-term foster carers is 21 years. There is no set maximum age, and applicants’ suitability will depend on the type of resource they are offering.

2.5 Gender

Application will be considered from people of either sex.

2.6 Sexual Orientation

Applications will be considered from people of any sexual orientation.

2.7 Employment

Applicants do not need to be in part or full-time employment and no one will be excluded solely on the grounds that they are unemployed. If both applicants work full-time this may affect the age of child they could be considered for.

2.8 Health

All applicants will be required to have a full medical and undergo any further tests/checks that may be required by the Adoption Panel Medical Advisor..

2.9 Criminal Convictions

Anyone who has been cautioned or convicted of an offence against or involving a child, including a specified offence under the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000,, will be precluded from applying - see Persons Disqualified from Fostering Procedure.

2.10 Employees

Applications will not be accepted from employees of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames Education and Children's Services. The Adoption and Permanency Team will however offer an advice service to employees.

2.11 Residence in the United Kingdom

Applicants do not have to have British Citizenship, but should normally be resident in the United Kingdom.

2.12 Child Minding

In determining the number of children a prospective long-term foster carer should be approved for (up to a maximum of three), the number and ages of children being child-minded will be taken into account.

2.13 Referees

Applicants will be asked to supply the names and addresses of three referees, one of whom should be a relative. Referees should be people who know the applicants well and in the case of a couple, know both applicants. At least one referee should have direct experience of caring for children, either in a personal or professional capacity.

2.14 Accommodation

It is essential that all children 10 years and above, only share bedrooms with children of the same sex. Ideally, all children over 10 should have a separate bedroom.

2.15 Pets

In determining the suitability of the household, the question of whether any household pets pose a danger or health risk to a child, will be taken into account. Where a dog comes within the definition of a dangerous dog as defined by the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 as amended this will automatically disqualify a household from being approved.

2.16 Preparation Groups and Training

All applicants will be expected to attend preparation groups before their application is presented to Panel. In addition all approved applicants will be expected to attend a minimum of 15 hours of training within the first year of approval.

2.17 Attendance at Panel

All applicants will be invited and actively encouraged to attend Panel, when their application is being presented. The decision to attend rests with the applicants and a wish not to attend will not prejudice fair consideration of an application.

3. The Child

3.1 Age

A baby is defined as a child below the age of 12 months. There is no upper age limit for considering a child for adoption, where this is consistent with the child’s best interests and wishes. Only children under the age of 16 years will be brought to Panel for linking for permanent/long-term fostering and/or for adoption plans and placements for adoption.

3.2 Racial and Ethnic Origin

Children will be placed in families that reflect as closely as possible their racial and ethnic origin and their cultural, linguistic and religious needs. Consideration must however be given to all the child’s needs and no child should be denied the chance of a permanent substitute family solely on the grounds that the child and the adopters do not share the same racial or cultural background. The wishes of the birth parents must be considered in relation to religious upbringing, race and ethnicity and their views about the type of family that could best meet the needs of their child, taken into account.

3.3 Siblings

Siblings will normally be placed together unless there are substantive reasons why this should not happen. Where siblings are placed separately efforts must e made to maintain contact between them. These decisions will be made at a Permanency Planning Meeting.

See Decision to Look After a Child (Care and Permanency Planning) Procedure

3.4 Contact with Birth Family

Consideration will always be given to whether it is in the best interests of the child to maintain some form of contact with its birth family. Whilst the wishes of the birth parents will be taken into account regarding future contact, the best interests of the child must remain the paramount consideration.

3.5 Adoption Contact Register

Information will be given to children and/or their adoptive parents and birth parents, about the Adoption Contact Register, including their right to register a wish not to be contacted.

3.6 Placement in a Substitute Family

All children of 12 years of age and below should be placed in a family. Consideration should be given to placement in a family of all children of 13 years plus. The decision to place a child of 12 years or below in residential accommodation will be made by the Designated Manager (Placement in Residential Care).

3.7 Information About the Child

All information obtained about the child and its family history, will be passed onto prospective adopters, including the Child’s Permanence Report.

3.8 The Child’s Views

Where a child is of an age and understanding to be able to express a view about the plans for his/her future, those views should be contained in the Child’s Permanence Report and the Adoption Placement Report. Children may also put their views in writing to the Panel if they wish to do so. (See Placements for Adoption Procedure).

4. Adoption from Overseas

4.1 The Applicants

Applications for overseas adoption can only be accepted from residents of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. Applications will be accepted from couples (married or unmarried) or single people. Applicants must be domiciled in the British Isles or habitually resident in the British Isles for at least 12 months. Joint applicants must both fulfil these requirements. Applicants will be expected to identify one country from which they wish to adopt and should have a good understanding of that country’s culture. Applicants will be expected to bring any adopted child up in the knowledge that he/she is adopted and to preserve and promote the child’s cultural and ethnic origin.

There is a charge for the assessment process for applicants; in addition applicants will be expected to attend certain training for which there is an additional charge.

4.2 The Role of the Panel

As for domestic adoptions, all assessments on overseas adopters must be referred to the Panel. The Panel’s role is advisory and consultative and relates only to recommending the suitability of prospective adopters. For this reason and because of the nature of overseas adoption, some of the criteria set out in Section 1, Prospective Adopters and Section 3, The Child, of this policy document, may not apply.

The Panel’s role is also to establish that the applicants have complied with all the procedures laid down by the Home Office and the Department for Education and Skills and that there is no prima facie case for believing that they would not be granted an adoption order, if they were to bring a child in to this country. Approval will only be given in respect of a particular country. As with domestic adopters, the Panel may give advice as to the number, age range, sex, likely needs and background of the children who may be placed with the applicants.

4.3 Applicants’ Attendance at Panel

All applicants will be invited and encouraged to attend the Panel, when their application is considered. The decision to attend rests with the applicants and a wish not to attend will not prejudice consideration of an application.

5. Step Parent/Civil Partner Adoption

5.1 The Applicant

Applications will only be accepted from residents of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. Applicants must be married to or the civil partner of one of the birth parents and ideally married for a minimum of twelve months to establish the stability of the marriage/civil partnership, although this is not a legal requirement.

All applicants will be offered an initial information meeting with a member of the Adoption Team, to enable them to determine whether or not they wish to proceed with adoption. If they do wish to proceed they will be asked to complete a `Notice of Intention to Adopt’ form, which will be formally acknowledged by the Adoption and Permanency Team.

5.2 The Child

Where the child is of sufficient age and understanding, it is expected that the birth parent and the applicant will have fully informed the child about his/her past and about the adoption process.

It is expected that the child’s views on future contact with the absent parent should where possible and appropriate, be obtained and recorded.

5.3 The Panel

The Panel has no role in relation to step-parent/civil partner adoptions.

6. Independent Fostering Agencies

If a long-term foster carer approved by the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames decides to foster for an independent fostering agency, their approval by this authority will normally be terminated.

Where the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames intends to use a long-term foster carer assessed by an independent fostering agency, a report by the independent agency must be presented to Panel for approval. The Panel expects that:

All reports presented by the independent agency are of the standard that the Panel expects from Borough social work staff;
A representative from the independent agency who has personal knowledge of the carers attends the Panel meeting;
The placement meets all other London Borough of Richmond upon Thames’ criteria for placement;
The child’s social worker presents a report, detailing why this particular placement will meet the child’s needs.

7. Inter-agency Placements

Where the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames intends to place a child/children with carers approved by another local authority or independent agency, the Panel expects that:

All reports presented by the other agency are of the standard that the Panel expects from Borough social work staff;
A representative from the other agency who has personal knowledge of the carers attends the Panel meeting;
The placement meets all other London Borough of Richmond upon Thames criteria for placement;
The child’s social worker presents a Linking Report/Adoption Placement Report, detailing why this particular placement will meet the child’s needs.
The arrangements for post placement and post adoption support are agreed and set out in an Adoption Support Plan.

8. Adoption and Permanency Panel Procedures

Applications from prospective adopters or long-term foster carers may be brought to the Panel prior to a full assessment being undertaken, for preliminary discussion about their suitability, where there are contentious issues likely to affect the outcome of an assessment. If so, a brief Prospective Adopter's Report will be required as set out in the Assessment and Approval of Agency Adoptive Parents Procedure.

Where a permanent placement appears to be in difficulties and may disrupt, the Panel welcomes the opportunity to discuss such situations and express a view on the children’s future needs.

The specific recommendations that the Panel can make in relation to adoption are:

Whether the child should be placed for adoption
Whether a prospective adopter is suitable to adopt
Whether a child should be placed with particular prospective adopters

The Panel may not make in principle or conditional recommendations.

Recommendations of the Panel will be recorded in the minutes, and reasons for the recommendations must be included.

The Panel must in addition consider and may advise on the following:

When considering whether a child should be placed for adoption, what the future contact arrangement should be and whether a Placement Order should be applied for
When considering whether prospective adopters are suitable to adopt, the number, age range, sex, likely needs and background of the children who may be placed with them
When considering whether a child should be placed with particular prospective adopters, the proposed contact arrangements, the proposed adoption support and any restrictions on the exercise of parental responsibility by the birth parents/prospective adopters

Any such advice must be recorded in the Panel minutes.

In relation to long-term foster carers and long-term foster placements the Panel will consider:

Whether it is in the best interests of a child under 16 to be fostered on a long-term basis
Whether a prospective foster carer is suitable to be a long-term foster carer
Whether a particular foster carer would provide a suitable long-term placement for a particular child

Where it is the intention of the Children and Families Department to commence Care Proceedings in respect of a child or where the child is already the subject of Care Proceedings, and adoption is the child’s Permanence Plan, the case should be brought to the Panel at the earliest opportunity and prior to the final hearing, for the Panel to consider whether to recommend that the child should be placed for adoption. However the case cannot be considered formally by the Panel until all other permanence options have been ruled out.

Acceptance or rejection of recommendations will usually be by consensus. If a vote is necessary however, any dissent or objection to a recommendation must be recorded in the minutes.

Applicants may not be approved for "long-term fostering with a view to adoption", but may be approved as both long-term foster carers under the Fostering Services Regulations 2011 and adoptive parents under the Adoption Agencies Regulations 2005.

If the Panel is unable to make a recommendation in respect of a case, the matter must be brought back to the next Panel for further discussion, unless the Panel agrees that a longer period of time is required for further enquiries to be made.

Where the Panel has recommended that a child should be placed for adoption or that it is the child’s interests to be placed in a long-term foster placement, or has recommended approval of a person or persons for fostering or adoption, the matter will be brought back to Panel, for further consideration or a review of the approval if:

The child has not been placed within six months of the Panel’s recommendation or the completion of Care Proceedings, whichever is the later;
After twelve months in the case of long-term foster carers, a child has not been placed with them;
After two years in the case of approved adopters, a child has not been placed with them.

If after 4 years of the original approval, prospective adopters have not had a child placed with them, the Panel will receive a Prospective Adopter’s Review Report to consider ending their approval. Applicants are welcome to approach another adoption agency to undertake any further assessment.

The Panel expects that all approved long-term foster carers and prospective adopters will sign an agreement to:

Take adequate steps to ensure the health and safety of any child placed with them;
Treat in strict confidence any information given to them about any child placed;
Attend appropriate training; and
Demonstrate a commitment to equality issues and a sensitivity to the child’s heritage.

All matters discussed within the Panel will remain strictly confidential to the Panel, unless it is appropriate and necessary for information to be disclosed in the interests of the child/children. Appropriate consents to such disclosure must be obtained and the reasons for disclosure recorded on the child's file.

Applicants should be informed of the membership of the Panel. If a particular Panel member is known to the applicant(s), the Panel member must declare their interest and may be asked to stand down on the basis of their knowledge of the applicant(s), even if the applicant(s) have not requested this. If this is the case, the Panel member will not receive papers on the applicants(s) and will not take part in any discussion relating to the applicant(s). See also Section 9.3.

Documents distributed to the Panel are strictly confidential and remain the property of the Education and Children's Services, unless otherwise specified, and should be returned to the Panel Clerk at the end of each Panel meeting.

9. Adoption and Permanence Panel Protocol

9.1 Appointments to Panel

There is no fixed Panel membership or maximum number of members or maximum tenure of office.

A Central List needs to be maintained containing a list of persons considered to be suitable to be members of an Adoption Panel. Those on the Central List are appointed by the Designated Manager (Adoption Panel Appointments) and will able to continue their membership as long as they are able to carry out their duties.

When setting up an Adoption Panel, members will be drawn from this Central List and the same people do not have to be appointed to every Panel meeting.

The Central List should include (in addition to the Independent Chair):

Adoption social workers with at least 3 years' relevant post qualifying experience in child care social work, including direct experience in adoption work (not necessarily employed by the agency);
The Medical Adviser/s;
Other persons whom the agency considers suitable including specialists in education; race and culture; child and adolescent mental health services; and those with personal experience of adoption.

The Chair must be independent of the adoption agency, and is appointed by the Designated Manager (Adoption Panel Appointments).

The Panel must also have one, and can have two, Vice Chairs (who are not necessarily independent members), who are also appointed by the Designated Manager (Adoption Panel Appointments).

The Agency Decision Maker on adoption matters must not be included on the Central List.

All those on the Central List should have undergone a recruitment process that includes interviews, identity checks, verification of qualifications and right to work in the UK, references and CRB checks, which are recorded.

As part of this process, new appointees to the Central List will be asked to give signed agreement to checks being undertaken by the Criminal Records Bureau. They are excluded from Panel membership if they have any offences against children or of violence. They will be required to notify the agency immediately if they receive such a conviction or caution while they are a serving member.

They should have the opportunity to observe an Adoption Panel meeting before they sit as a member and to attend an annual joint training day with adoption agency staff; have induction training completed within 10 weeks of inclusion on the list and access to appropriate training and skills development and are kept abreast of changes to legislation, regulation and guidance.

They should also have access to the agency's whistle-blowing policy.

Written information about the expectations arising from their appointment should be given to new appointees to the Central List (in relation to their performance objectives, participation in induction and other training, safeguarding the confidentiality of information provided to the Panel and their general conduct - see Section 9.3, Confidentiality and Section 9.4, General Conduct) and they should be asked to sign a written agreement confirming their acceptance of these before taking up their appointment.

9.2 Attendance at Panel

The agency will decide how many people should sit at each Adoption Panel meeting, provided that there is a quorum of 5, one of whom must be the Chair or Vice Chair, one of the adoption social worker representatives and at least one independent member.

Appointed Panel Members are expected to make every effort to attend Panel meetings.

If they are unable to attend, they should inform the Panel Administrator as soon as possible, to ensure another member can be invited and the Panel is quorate.

Failure to attend Panel meetings for other than medical reasons may result in the member's appointment to the Central List being withdrawn.

9.3 Confidentiality

All written and verbal information given to Panel members in the course of their duties is strictly confidential. Panel members are required to agree in writing that all information will remain confidential.

Panel members are expected to keep all written information in a secure place and return all documents relating to cases, to the agency immediately after each Panel meeting.

Panel members must not copy in part or in whole, any documents that relate to a case.

If a Panel member has some knowledge of a case, whether in a personal or professional capacity, they should declare an interest and inform the Chair of the Panel. A decision will be taken by the Panel as to whether or not that Panel member is included in the discussion about the case. This should be done at the earliest opportunity, to ensure the Panel is quorate.

Failure to comply with the above paragraphs may result in the member’s appointment being withdrawn.

9.4 General Conduct

Members of the Central List should be committed to anti-discriminatory practice and should be prepared to consider each case on its own merits.

Appointed Panel members should have read the Panel papers carefully, prior to the Panel meeting and come prepared to contribute to the Panel discussion.

If there are concerns about the conduct or behaviour of a member of the Central List, this should be conveyed to the Chair who will raise these concerns in private.

If concerns about a Panel member's conduct or behaviour cannot be resolved informally, the agency will put in writing the concerns and what action it proposes to take.

9.5 Resignations From the Adoption and Permanency Panel

Members of the Central List are expected to give a minimum of two months' written notice, except where personal emergencies e.g. accidents, illness, make this impossible. Resignation letters should be addressed to the Head of Children's Social Care, with a copy to the Chair of the Panel.

Initial verbal resignations may be given, but should always be followed by a written resignation. Members of the Central List are asked, as a matter of courtesy, to inform the Chair of the Panel of their intention to resign, before making any public announcement.

Written or verbal resignations should never be used during the course of a Panel meeting or subsequently, as a means of trying to influence the outcome of Panel business.

Members of the Central List are not expected to temporarily withdraw their services, because of disputes/disagreements over Panel practice or policy. Any member taking such action will be deemed to have to have formally resigned with immediate effect, even if no written resignation has been received.

Members of the Central List wishing to withdraw a submitted written resignation, must do so before the two months' notice period expires, by writing to the Head of Children's Social Care. The Head of Children's Social Care reserves the right not to accept a withdrawal of notice and to allow the original letter of resignation to stand.

9.6 Termination of Appointment of Members of the Central List

The Adoption Agencies Regulations 2005 provide that an adoption agency, if it is of the opinion that a member is unfit or unable to hold office, may terminate their office by giving notice in writing, with reasons. Within the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, this Regulation will be deemed to apply also in respect of the Panel’s fostering functions.

Termination of appointments may come into effect where Panel members are found to be in breach of this protocol.

10. Presenting Cases to Panel

10.1 Reports on Children: Child’s Permanence Report

Reports should contain a list of the assessed needs of the child, how those needs were identified and a view of the type of family that could best meet those needs. The list should include any needs in relation to the child’s racial, ethnic, cultural, linguistic and religious needs. Potential risk factors for future placement should be identified, as far as is reasonably possible.

A flow-chart, indicating moves, changes of carers and other changes in the child’s life, together with an genogram showing family links and other significant people in the child’s life must be included in or attached to the report. If the child is of sufficient age and understanding, their views about the proposed plan should also be included in the report.

The child may also be invited to put their views in writing, which can then be presented to the Panel.

10.2 Reports on Prospective Foster Carers and Adopters

Reports should contain a list of the assessed strengths and weaknesses of the applicants, together with an opinion of the type(s) of placement(s) they could provide. Potential risk factors should be highlighted. Where appropriate, reports should clearly address equality issues.

10.3 Adoption Placement Reports/Linking Reports

These reports should detail how the assessed needs of the child will be met by the selected family. Preparation work with the child, particularly those areas of work not yet completed, should be commented on.

Potential risk factors should be highlighted and what, if anything, can be done to minimise those risks. The progress of any Placement Order application or other court proceedings should be explained.

11. Applicants' Attendance at Panel

11.1 The Right to Attend

The Panel welcomes and supports applicants’ right to attend the Panel and be heard.

The Panel wishes to encourage applicants to attend, but recognises that some applicants will choose not to attend and this will in no way affect fair consideration of their application.

11.2 The Prospective Adopter’s Report/Assessment Report

The applicants have the right to see a copy of their assessment report, at least 10 working days before the Panel and to make comments about the report.

Matters of factual accuracy will be corrected before the report is presented to Panel. Where however there are differences of opinion, the applicants may make their comments in writing and these will be presented to Panel together with the assessment report. Applicants attending Panel will be provided with a copy of the assessment report and their written comments.

Comments by personal referees and other third party information will not be given to the applicants and must not be disclosed at Panel, without the prior permission of the person(s) supplying the information.

12. Post Placement/Post Adoption Services

12.1 Post-Placement Support in Adoption and Long-Term Fostering Placements

Post placement support will be provided by the child’s social worker and the adoptive/long-term foster family’s social worker. Additional support may be provided by other professionals where this is consistent with the best interests of the child. In relation to children placed for adoption, this will be set out in the child’s Adoption Placement Plan. Each child placed for permanent fostering will have a Post Placement Support Plan and where appropriate, a Post Placement Contact Plan - these terms are defined in Keywords Appendix.

12.2 Post-adoption Support

Post-adoption support will be provided to any family approved as adopters by this authority or any family with whom a child has been placed for adoption by this authority. Support services will be designed to promote the success of the placement and to meet the needs of the adopted child and their new family. Each child will have an Adoption Support Plan and where appropriate, a Post Adoption Contact Plan.

A post adoption support service may also be provided to any adoptive family or any adopted person who are residents of the borough.

12.3 Letter Box Contact Service

The Adoption and Permanency Team operates a letter box contact service, to enable an adopted child to maintain indirect contact with their birth family, where this is part of the Post Adoption Contact Plan.

12.4 Access to Adoption Records

See Access to Birth Records and Birth Relative Initiated Contact Procedure

12.5 Financial Support

The Panel must consider and may advise on proposed adoption support, including the payment of financial support, when considering whether a child should be placed for adoption and when considering the proposed placement of a child with particular prospective adopters.

Requests for assessment for adoption support services can be made by parents who have adopted children placed by Richmond at any time.

13. Appeals Procedure - Long Term Foster Carers and Adopters

Introduction

The appeals procedure will be followed where prospective long-term foster/adoptive parents or approved adopters/long-term foster carers believe that the social worker, and/or the Panel have wrongly judged their application, reassessment, review, suspension or termination of approval.

A complaint about the conduct of an officer would be dealt with under the Council’s Complaints Procedure.

13.1 New Applications

Where a decision is taken by the Adoption and Permanency Team not to proceed with an enquiry from the outset, the applicant(s) should be informed in writing of the decision and the reasons for not pursuing their enquiry.

If they wish to appeal they should put their appeal in writing to the Manager, Adoption and Permanency, setting out the reasons why they consider their application should proceed.

The Manager, Adoption and Permanency, may then:

Confirm the original decision:
Overturn the original decision;
Agree to meet the applicant(s) before deciding on (a.) or (b.).

If the applicants remain dissatisfied with the way the appeal was handled, they may complain in writing to the Principal Service Manager.

Where an application has been made but an issue arises during the course of the assessment, prior to its completion which would indicate that a recommendation for approval is unlikely to be made, before a decision is taken by the Adoption and Permanency Team that the applicant(s) would not be suitable, the applicant(s) can request that a Prospective Adopter's Report is completed and presented to the Adoption and Permanency Panel. This may be brief depending on the extent to which the assessment has been undertaken.

The applicants will be given a copy of the Prospective Adopter's Report and will have up to 10 working days to submit their written comments about the report, copies of which will be given to Panel.

If the Panel recommends rejection of the application, the applicants may within 40 working days, appeal in writing, via the Manager, Adoption and Permanency, to the Panel chairperson who may:

Ask the Adoption and Permanency Team to make further enquiries and/or ask the applicants to make a further full written submission, stating why they feel their case was wrongly judged by the Panel; and/or
Refer the matter back to the Panel for further consideration. Copies of the applicants’ written submission would be distributed to Panel members. The Panel would then confirm or reverse its original recommendation. If the Panel’s recommendation is accepted by the Agency Adoption Decision Maker, this should be regarded as final.

In the case of prospective adoptive applications which are refused, the applicants may, as an alternative to the above, elect to refer the case to the Independent Review Mechanism within 40 working days of being notified of their decision. See Assessment and Approval of Agency Adoptive Parents Procedure.

13.2 Re-assessments

A recommendation to re-assess approved families will be made initially by the Manager, Adoption and Permanency, following a review of the family’s suitability. In the case of approved adopters, see Assessment and Approval of Agency Adoptive Parents Procedure for further details in relation to the review of prospective adopters’ approval.

In the case of permanent foster carers, if the approved family objects to a reassessment, the Head of Children's Social Care will be notified and may refer the matter to the Panel.

If the recommendation of the Manager is upheld, the family will be notified in writing of the recommendation, the reasons for the reassessment and the process. A reassessment report will be produced by a member of the Adoption and Permanency Team, unless it is felt necessary for this to be done by an independent worker. A copy of the completed assessment will be given to the family and they will have up to 10 working days to submit their written comments.

A copy of this letter, together with the assessment report, will be submitted to Panel for a recommendation. If the Panel’s recommendation is accepted by the Agency Adoption Decision Maker, this should be regarded as final.

This procedure will apply to long-term foster carers against whom a complaint has been made and where that complaint is proven and a decision made to reassess.

13.3 Suspension or Withdrawal of Approval

A recommendation to suspend or withdraw approval will be made initially by the Manager, Adoption and Permanency, following a review of the family’s suitability. The Head of Children's Social Care will be notified of all such recommendations and the matter referred to the Adoption and Permanency Panel.

In the case of approved adopters, see Assessment and Approval of Agency Adoptive Parents Procedure for further details in relation to the review of prospective adopters’ approval.

In the case of long-term foster carers, the family will be notified in writing of the recommendation and the reasons and informed of the right to appeal to the Panel. The family should appeal in writing to the Manager, Adoption and Permanency. A copy of this letter together with a report prepared by a member of the Adoption and Permanency Team will be submitted to Panel for a recommendation. If the Panel’s recommendation is accepted by the Agency Adoption Decision Maker, this should be regarded as final.

This procedure will apply to those carers against whom a serious complaint has been made and where that complaint is proven and a decision made to recommend suspension or withdrawal of approval.

14. Relatives as Long Term Foster Carers or Adopters

The Process

Whilst it may be decided that it is in the interests of a particular child to remain with or be placed with relatives, this does not mean that those relatives will automatically meet the standard required by the authority and the Panel for approval as long-term foster carers or prospective adopters.

Any application from a relative will be treated in the same way as any others from prospective adopters/foster carers. Depending on the circumstances, this assessment will be carried out by a member of the Adoption and Permanency team or the child’s social worker.

A decision will be taken at a Looked After Review about a child remaining with or being placed with a Connected Person and a Permanency Planning Meeting will then be convened to decide how to proceed.

The Permanency Planning Meeting will consider whether there are grounds for believing that the prospective carers would not meet the criteria for approval. Where the child concerned is subject to Care Proceedings or a Care Order, the matter may have to be referred to the Panel for advice on how to proceed.

15. Adoption Records

15.1 Confidentiality and Preservation of Case Records

All adoption records must be kept in a place of special security. In the case of closed files, this will be the archives based at 42 York Street. For current cases this will mean secure filing cabinets, which must be kept locked when not in use or at least kept locked out of normal office hours.

All adoption records, where an adoption order was granted, must be kept for 100 years from the date of adoption.

Where the adoption record relates to a looked after child, who is subsequently not adopted, the record should be kept for 75 years from the child’s date of birth. All other adoption records must be kept for a minimum of 10 years, from the date of closure.

The child’s social worker must ensure that once a child is adopted, that all files relating to that child are archived with the file(s) on the adoptive parents.

15.2 Access to Adoption Records

See Access to Birth Records and Birth Relative Initiated Contact Procedure.

End