Adoption Panel
Scope of this chapter
This chapter details the arrangements for establishing and maintaining an Adoption Panel, which provides an independent scrutiny of the proposals presented by the agency. It also describes the roles, responsibilities and functions of the panel and its advisers.
Relevant Regulations
Adoption and Children Act 2002
Adoption Agencies Regulations 2005 (as amended in 2011), Regulations 3 to 9, 18, 19, 26, 27, 32 and 33
Adoption and Children Act 2002 Guidance (2011), Chapters 1 to 4.
Adoption National Minimum Standards 2011, Standard 17
Adoption Agencies (Panel and Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2012
Amendment
The Adoption Panel contributes to the running and quality assurance of the adoption service and receives annual reports on the service and its performance.
In doing so it has an overriding responsibility to promote good practice, consistency of approach and fairness in all aspects of the adoption service, in accordance with its procedures and values.
The Adoption Panel promotes safe, secure and stable placements through active engagement. It carries out a rigorous quality assurance function and promotes thorough assessments, support and training for adopters and prospective adopters.
The Adoption and Children Act 2002 Section 1(2) establishes that "the paramount consideration of the court or adoption agency must be the child's welfare, throughout his life".
In considering their recommendations panels shall have regard to the duties of the agency:
- To safeguard and promote the welfare of the child throughout their childhood;
- So far as its practicable, to ascertain the wishes and feelings of the child and to give them due consideration, having regard to their age and understanding;
- In placing a child to have regard to the wishes of their parents and guardians as to their religious upbringing.
In all its considerations relating to the child, panel will have regard to the welfare checklist
Panels will carry out the functions and duties as set out in the Adoption Agencies Regulations 2005 and will meet the requirements of statutory Adoption Guidance, and the National Minimum Standards for Adoption
Applicants will be encouraged to attend panel when their application is heard on the basis of a full assessment or a brief "report", or if it is proposed by the agency that approval should be withdrawn. Although not a requirement, prospective adopters will also be invited to attend the matching panel as this is considered good practice.
The adoption agency must decide whether the prospective adopter is suitable to adopt a child within four months of the date on which the agency received the prospective adopter’s notification that they wished to proceed with the assessment process.
Adoption Panels make a recommendation on whether a child is suitable to be placed for adoption (where the parents consent and there will be no Placement Order application) within two months of the Looked After Review where adoption was identified as the child's Permanence Plan.
Adoption Panels make a recommendation on the proposed placement of a child with particular prospective adopters within six months of the Agency Decision Maker's decision that the child is suitable to be placed for adoption.
Where the timescales are not met, the Adoption Panel should record the reasons.
Whether a child should be placed for adoption - in some cases - see below*
As from 1 September 2012, not all cases must be referred to the Adoption Panel. Cases where the criteria apply for the Local Authority to apply for a Placement Order, i.e. the child is the subject of a Care Order or the Threshold Criteria for a Care Order are satisfied or where there is no parent or guardian, will not be referred to the Adoption Panel for a recommendation, but will be referred directly to the Agency Decision Maker for a decision. All other cases (i.e. where the parents have given consent and there is no application for a Placement Order) will continue to be referred to the Adoption Panel for a recommendation, which the Agency Decision Maker will take into account when making a decision.
Note that in cases which are referred directly to the Agency Decision Maker for a decision, they are expressly prohibited from referring a case to the Adoption Panel for advice.
Panel will make a recommendation on:
- Whether the child should be placed for adoption, and should also consider and may offer advice on;
- Whether the contact arrangements that are proposed are likely to meet the child's identity needs and whether they are compatible with the placement for adoption.
Panel will also confirm that birth parents have been given the opportunity to see and comment on the contents of the report, and that they have been offered independent support.
Whether a prospective adopter is suitable to adopt a child
Panel will make a recommendation on:
- Whether the prospective adopter is suitable to adopt a child;
and should also consider and may offer advice on: - The number of children, age range, gender, likely needs and background that may be appropriate. (This advice may inform subsequent matching of the prospective adopter with a child but the agency is not restricted by such advice).
Whether a child should be placed for adoption with a specific prospective adoptive parent
Panel will make a recommendation on:
- Whether the child should be placed for adoption with the specific prospective adoptive parent/s proposed;
and must also consider and may offer advice on: - The proposals for adoption support for the adoptive family;
- Whether the contact arrangements that are proposed are likely to meet the child's identity needs and whether they are compatible with the placement for adoption;
- The adequacy of the Adoption Support Plan;
- Whether the Parental Responsibility of any parent or guardian or the prospective adopter should be restricted, and if so the extent of any restriction.
Panel will also confirm that birth parents have been given the opportunity to see and comment on the contents of the information about them that has been or will be shared with the prospective adoptive parents.
Where a panel considers it has insufficient information, the making of a recommendation will be deferred until that information can be presented to panel.
Panel to Agency
The panels will:
- Raise through the chair or agency adviser any cases causing particular concern;
- Monitor and feedback to the agency (via the agency adviser or Panel Manager) the quality of the work presented to the panels to enable a process of continuous improvement;
- Draw to the attention of the agency through the agency adviser areas of policy, procedure and practice requiring review.
Agency to Panel
The agency will:
- Provide information to all panels about Nottinghamshire children whose adoptive placement has disrupted and Nottinghamshire adopters whose placement has disrupted. Panels will also review disruption reports to identify learning points;
- Provide information about adopters who have been reviewed by the agency and whose continued approval has been agreed;
- Provide a six-monthly report of the agency's activity in adoption work for panel's consideration;
- Inform panel of the outcome of any complaints where appropriate.
There is no fixed Panel membership or maximum number of members or maximum tenure of office.
Members are recruited from a range of diverse backgrounds. They have the necessary knowledge and expertise to support the adoption service to make effective child-centred decisions about the cases before them.
The agency will maintain a Central List of persons considered to be suitable as panel members. This List will be maintained by the agency advisers. Members will be appointed to a specific Panel, but may be asked to attend other Panels if issues of quoracy arise, for example.
The same people do not have to be appointed to every Panel meeting.
The Central List should include (in addition to the Independent Chair):
- 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; Children and Young People’s Mental Health Services (CYPMHS); and those with personal experience of adoption.
The Chair (Independent Person) must be independent of the adoption agency, and is appointed by the Service Manager (Adoption). Independent chairs should meet the requirements of the person specification as in Appendix 3: Annual Appraisal Form.
- The chair will share joint responsibility with the Adoption Panel Manager for the annual performance review of panel members;
- The performance of the panel chair will be reviewed annually by the agency decision maker, taking into account any comments received from panel members and those attending panel (i.e. social workers and adoptive applicants).
The Panel must also have one, and can have two, Vice Chairs (who are not necessarily independent members), who are also appointed by the Service Manager (Adoption). The Vice Chairs of the Panels are expected to operate across the Panels if the need arises. As their role will be to chair panels in the absence of the independent chair, Vice Chairs should also meet the requirements of the person specification as set out in Appendix 3: Annual Appraisal Form.
The Agency Decision Maker on adoption matters must not be included on the Central List.
The agency should 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.
Those on the Central List are appointed by the Service Manager (Adoption) and will able to continue their membership as long as they are able to carry out their duties.
All those on the Central List should undergo a process that includes interviews, identity checks, verification of qualifications and right to work in the UK, taking up of two references and DBS (Enhanced Disclosure) checks, which are recorded. Written references will be sought and telephone enquiries made to verify the reference.
New appointees will be asked to give signed agreement to checks being undertaken as above and cannot take up their appointment until the outcome of the checks are known. They are excluded from Panel membership if they have any offences against children or of violence. They are required to notify the Panel Manager immediately if they receive such a conviction or caution while on the Central List.
A confidential file shall be set up by the Adoption Panel Manager in respect of every Panel member to record:
- The application and any notes relating to the decision to appoint the panel member;
- Qualifications;
- Status and enhanced disclosure DBS checks, enquiries and references that have been obtained and their outcomes;
- Experience of working in a child care setting;
- Training undertaken;
- Complaints made against the panel member;
- Notes of any appraisals or decisions to terminate the appointment of the panel member.
Potential vice chairs, social workers and independent panel members will be interviewed by the Adoption Panel Manager and a Panel chair. They should explain the responsibilities of the role and ensure that:
- The individual has the capacity to operate in that role;
- The potential panel member is aware of the policies of the Nottinghamshire Adoption Agency and can support them;
- The potential panel member is willing to sign their agreement to the Protocol for Panel Members.
Where it is mutually agreed to pursue membership, the Adoption Panel Manager will recommend the appointment to the Service Manager (Adoption) and this will then be endorsed by the Head of the Adoption Agency.
They should have the opportunity to observe an Adoption Panel meeting before they sit as a member (see Appendix 3: Annual Appraisal Form) and to have induction training completed within 10 weeks of inclusion on the list. Members will also have access to appropriate training and skills development and are kept abreast of changes to legislation, regulation and guidance. Panel members will be expected to attend two training days each year, one a joint training day with adoption agency staff, and the other a day for members of all Panels to meet together.
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 2.2, Confidentiality and Section 2.3, General Conduct) and they should be asked to sign a written agreement confirming their acceptance of these before taking up their appointment.
All written and verbal information given to Panel members in the course of their duties is strictly confidential. As indicated above, those included on the Central List are required to sign a written agreement, before their appointment, to confirm that all information they receive will remain confidential.
Panel members are expected to keep all written information in a secure place and return all Panel documents to the agency immediately after each Panel meeting. Panel members unable to attend a meeting will be asked to return their papers to the Panel Co-ordinator.
Panel members must not copy, in part or in whole, any documents that relate to a case.
Discussions about cases must only take place within the Panel meeting.
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 at the earliest opportunity, so that an alternative member can be invited if required to ensure that the Panel is quorate (see Section 2.4, Conflicts of Interest).
Failure to comply with the above paragraphs may result in the member's inclusion on the Central List being terminated.
All those on the Central List should be committed to anti-discriminatory practice and should be prepared to consider each case on its own merits.
Panel members receive and are expected to abide by the Protocol for Panel Members and the Panel Values (see Appendix 1: Adoption Panel: Values) and Code of Conduct documents.
Panel members should have read the Panel papers carefully, prior to the Panel meeting, and come prepared to contribute to the Panel discussion.
The Panel Manager will monitor the performance of those on the Central List on an on-going basis.
The Panel Manager, in consultation with the Chair, will review their performance on a formal basis at least annually.
If there are concerns about the conduct or behaviour of a person on the Central List, this should be conveyed to the Panel Manager and Chair who will raise these concerns with the person in private.
If such concerns cannot be resolved informally, the Panel Manager, in consultation with the Chair, will write to the person concerned setting out the concerns and what action it is proposed to take. See Section 2.6, Termination of Appointment to the Central List for action that may be taken if the concerns continue.
The Chair's performance will be reviewed annually by the Agency Decision Maker, taking into account the views of those who attend Panel meetings, namely, persons on the Central List, social workers and prospective adopters.
Panel members should consider any conflicts of interest in relation to Panel agenda items. A potential conflict arises if an interest may be seen to adversely affect a Panel member's capacity to act without prejudice or preference in a matter.
It is anticipated that in many circumstances there may be professional knowledge of a case which should be notified to the Chair but which will not affect a member's capacity to participate in the Panel. In other circumstances there may be a personal interest or connection which would require the Panel member to refrain from participation. It may be less clear in some cases when advice should be sought.
In the case of a potential conflict of interest where advice is required, Panel members should consult the Chair, Panel Manager or Legal Adviser, giving as much advance notice as possible particularly having regard to the implications for the quorum.
All those on the Central List are expected to give a minimum of one month's written notice of their wish to resign, except where personal emergencies e.g. accidents, illness, make this impossible. Resignation letters should be addressed to the Service Manager (Adoption), with a copy to the Chair of the Panel.
Initial verbal resignations may be given, but should always be followed by a written resignation. Those on 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.
Those on the Central List wishing to withdraw a submitted written resignation must do so before the one month notice period expires by writing to the Service Manager (Adoption), who reserves the right not to accept a withdrawal of notice and to allow the original letter of resignation to stand.
Where it is considered that someone is unsuitable to be on the Central List, they must be given one month's notice in writing and reasons for the decision to end their appointment.
Where there are concerns about the behaviour of a person on the Central List either inside or outside the meetings, and the difficulties have not been resolved by discussion and correspondence between the Chair, Panel Manager and the person concerned, the matter will be raised by the Panel Manager with the Service Manager (Adoption), who will decide whether to propose the end of the appointment and if so, will advise the person concerned in writing giving clear reasons for the proposal.
The person concerned will be given the opportunity to make observations on the matter before a final decision is made by the Service Manager (Adoption).
The Panel Co-ordinator will prepare and circulate an annual list of Adoption Panel dates and deadlines in advance of the designated start of the Panel's year.
The Panel Co-ordinator, in consultation with the Panel Adviser, will prepare the agenda for each meeting and draw members from the Central List. The agenda and Panel papers for each meeting should be sent to Panel members at least ten working days before the meeting.
social workers presenting reports to the Panel must send their report and any supporting documentation required (as specified in the relevant procedures elsewhere in the Manual; see Placement for Adoption Procedure and Recruitment, Assessment and Approval of Prospective Adopters Procedure) to the Panel Co-ordinator three weeks before the date of the Panel meeting.
The Panel Adviser, who must be a senior practitioner or manager in the adoption service with at least 5 years' relevant post-qualification and management experience, attends all Panel meetings to advise the Panel but is not a member of the Panel. Their role is to ensure all the necessary reports are available for the Panel, to advise the Panel on social work and procedural matters and to report to social workers and their managers on issues arising from Panel meetings.
The agenda will include at the beginning an opportunity for any Panel member to declare an interest in any item on the agenda (see Section 2.4, Conflicts of Interest). If an interest is declared, the Chair must then decide whether the Panel member should withdraw during consideration of the item.
See Appendix 5: Confidentiality Undertaking - Observers.
The agency recognises the benefits of observing panel for prospective panel members, social workers who are new to the agency or unfamiliar with adoption and members of partner agencies. The usual expectation is that no more than one observer shall attend at any one time
Attendance to observe will be agreed by the Adoption Panel Manager in conjunction with the panel chair on the basis of the observer having a relevant interest
Observers will be invited to read the panel papers once these are available, but will only be able to do so at specified premises.
All observers must sign the Confidentiality undertaking when visiting to view the papers.
Adoption Service Managers, and Group Manager, may on occasion observe panels, without prior notice.
It is possible that the Children's Guardian who has been appointed by the Court may wish to attend Adoption Panel at the plan and/or match stage. Social workers must notify the Adoption Panel Administrator in these circumstances who will send a formal letter of invitation and confidentiality undertaking to the Guardian.
The panel will normally reach its recommendation to the agency by consensus. However, this may not always be possible. In this case, the chair should ensure that there are attempts to address views which are in apparent tension to see whether consensus can be achieved. In the event that panel members' recommendations are equally divided, the panel chair will have the casting vote.
Panel members act as individuals and have individual responsibility for the recommendations they make. They should feel able to depart from the majority view as long as this is supported by sound reasoning. Abstentions cannot be accepted
The panel is required to keep a written record of any of the recommendations which are made and the reasons for these.
The Agency Decision Maker considers recommendations from the Adoption Panel and, in those circumstances outlined in Section 1, Adoption Panel Purpose and Function, also makes decisions about whether a child is suitable to be placed for adoption without reference to the Adoption Panel. The following principles apply to all such decisions.
In reaching their decision, the Agency Decision Maker must consider:
- The welfare checklist in Section 1 of the Adoption and Children Act 2002*;
- All the information surrounding the case including the reports submitted to the Adoption Panel (where applicable), and that the authors of the reports are appropriately qualified to prepare them (see Section 6, Reports to Adoption Panel);
- The stability and permanence of the relationship of any couple under consideration;
- The recommendation and reasons of the Adoption Panel and any Independent Review Panel under the Independent Review Mechanism; and
- The final minutes of the Adoption Panel including any minutes from adjourned Panel meetings and the Independent Review Panel;
- The child's ascertainable wishes and feelings regarding the decision (considered in the light of the child's age and understanding);
- The child's particular needs;
- The likely effect on the child (throughout their life) of having ceased to be a member of the original family and become an adopted person;
- The child's age, gender identity, background and any of the child's characteristics which the court or agency considers relevant;
- Any harm (within the meaning of the Children Act 1989 (c. 41)) which the child has suffered or is at risk of suffering;
- The relationship which the child has with relatives, and with any other person in relation to whom the court or agency considers the relationship to be relevant, including:
- The likelihood of any such relationship continuing and the value to the child of its doing so;
- The ability and willingness of any of the child's relatives, or of any such person, to provide the child with a secure environment in which the child can develop, and otherwise to meet the child's needs;
- The wishes and feelings of any of the child's relatives, or of any such person, regarding the child.
It is good practice for the Agency Decision Maker:
- To list the material taken into account in reaching the decision;
- To identify key arguments;
- To state whether they agree with the process and approach of the relevant Panel(s) and are satisfied as to its fairness and that the Panel(s) has/have properly addressed the arguments;
- To consider whether any additional information now available to them that was not before the Panel has an impact on its reasons or recommendation;
- To identify the reasons given for the relevant recommendation that they do or do not wish to accept; and
- To state (a) the reasons by cross-reference or otherwise and (b) any further reasons for their decision.
The Panel minutes will always record the information in relation to the following:
- The reports received. (The Panel's requirements as to reports are specified in the relevant procedures elsewhere in the Manual; see Placement for Adoption Procedure and Recruitment, Assessment and Approval of Prospective Adopters Procedure);
- Who attended and for which part of the discussion;
- Medical advice;
- Legal advice;
- The Panel's discussions (main points) and conclusions;
- The Panel's recommendations and reasons, including any reservations expressed by any member;
- Any advice given by the Panel.
The Panel minutes will be written in accordance with the format agreed from time to time and kept on every child's or prospective adopter's Adoption Case Record.
The Panel Chair is responsible for ensuring the accuracy of the Panel’s recommendations, reasons and, following agreement with Panel members, the minutes. The Chair must also make sure that a person who is not a member of the Panel fulfils the task of writing these documents.
The minutes must accurately reflect the discussion and cover the key issues, rather than be a verbatim record of the meeting. Where Panel members have serious reservations, the Panel Chair must ensure these are recorded in the minutes and are attached to the Panel’s recommendation. If the Panel cannot reach a consensus on its recommendation after the Chair and other members of the Panel have voted, the Panel Chair has a second vote, i.e. the casting vote. The Panel’s minutes should clearly set out the reasons why the Panel Chair had to use the casting vote.
The Panel minutes must be produced promptly and agreed by the Panel members before being approved by the Chair and sent to the Agency Decision Maker, together with the reports considered by the Panel when the recommendation was made, so that the Agency Decision Maker can meet the timescales for making the decision as set out in the relevant procedures - usually the timescale is within 7 working days of receipt.
See also: Appendix 5: Confidentiality Undertaking - Observers.
Reports to the Adoption Panel in relation to matters upon which the Panel are asked to make recommendations must be prepared by qualified social workers with at least 3 years' post-qualification experience. This must include direct experience of adoption work either in assessing prospective adoptive parents or implementing an adoption plan for a Looked After child. Where the author of the report does not have the requisite qualifications and experience, they must have either a qualification in social work or be a social worker in training, and must be supervised by a qualified social worker with 3 years' relevant experience.
Where the person preparing the report is an independent or agency social worker, they must always be suitably qualified and experienced and be supervised by a member of staff with the suitable qualifications and experience.
The same qualifications and experience are required for social workers undertaking visits of children placed for adoption (see Monitoring and Supervision of Adoptive Placements Procedure) and authors of Court Reports in adoption cases.
The Health Service will nominate a suitability qualified adviser and will prepare an induction programme, to which the Adoption Panel Manager will contribute. Medical advisers who are to become panel members will be required to:
- Complete an information form which will provide details required under the Regulations;
- Provide the names and addresses of two referees. Written references will be sought and telephone enquiries made to verify the reference. This will be recorded on the panel member's file;
- Declare any convictions or cautions or criminal offences and authorise an "enhanced disclosure" DBS check if a valid one is not already in existence;
- Where this does exist, the original must be seen by the Adoption Panel Manager and a copy taken for the panel member's personnel file;
- Be in agreement with the policies of the Adoption Agency;
- Sign the Protocol for Panel Members including a confidentiality undertaking;
- Have their nomination accepted by the Service Manager (Adoption) based on the Health Service's recommendation. The appointment will be endorsed by the Head of the Adoption Agency.
The roles and responsibilities of the Medical Adviser are as follows:
- The Medical Adviser must be a registered medical practitioner who has general medical experience within the community;
- The Medical Adviser will offer advice with regard to policy in relation to medical aspects of adoption;
- The Medical Adviser will evaluate the health information available to the panel/Agency Decision Maker about children, their birth parents and adoptive applicants and advise about its implications in relation to adoption;
- The Medical Adviser will advise the agency staff on arrangements for access to and disclosure of medical information which is required or permitted. They will seek further medical information if they consider it necessary and give a full report in writing to the panel;
- The Medical Adviser will collate, provide and evaluate information the agency provides to a prospective new family about the child's health before placement. The medical adviser may choose to give this information personally to the new family;
- The Medical Adviser will collate, provide and evaluate the report on the child's health to be sent to the prospective new family's GP before placement and the notification to the Health Authority;
- The Medical Adviser will advise the agency on the extent to which the child's health should be monitored during the placement;
- The Medical Adviser will produce a written summary of each child's health background, current health status and future health and developmental prognosis in preparation for the adoption plan being presented to panel/Agency Decision Maker;
- The Medical Adviser will make this summary and any updated information available to prospective adopters before a proposed match is brought to a panel;
- In addition to the specialist role in advising the agency, its panels, staff and prospective carers on medical aspects of adoption, the Medical Adviser should also act as a full panel member as set out in the Protocol for Panel Members (Appendix 2: Acceptance of Appointment, Agreement and Confidentiality Undertaking for Nottinghamshire Central List Panel Members (Adoption/Fostering));
- The Medical Adviser will where necessary coordinate tertiary care and provide post placement advice;
- Medical Advisers will meet on a regular basis with representatives of the Adoption Management Group to ensure good liaison is maintained.
See also Section 7.3, Agency Adviser. In Adoption East Midlands, some of the responsibilities of the Agency Adviser as set out in the Adoption Guidance, are undertaken by the Adoption Panel Manager.
The Adoption Panel Manager shall be a social worker who has at least five years' relevant post-qualifying experience, and relevant management experience.
The duties of the Panel Manager are:
- To assist the agency with the appointment (including re-appointment), termination and review of appointment of members of the adoption panels;
- To be responsible for the induction and training of members of the adoption panels;
- To share joint responsibility with the panel chair for the annual performance review of panel members;
- To be responsible for the day-to-day management of the panel system, in conjunction with the Adoption Panel Co-ordinator;
- To discuss all issues pertinent to adoption panels with the Service Manager (Adoption);
- To be responsible for liaison between the agency and the adoption panels, monitoring the performance of members of the adoption panels, and the administration of the adoption panels;
- To advise the Head of the Adoption Agency and the agency decision makers on practice, procedure, panel membership and policy issues;
- To brief the panels on policy, practice and procedural issues and identify training needs;
- To ensure that the panels are consulted about relevant developments in adoption practice within the agency. This may be achieved through the quarterly Panel Review meeting which involves panel chairs and vice chairs, or by circulating all panel members;
- To provide a six monthly report of the agency's activity in adoption work to the panels and to the Service Manager (Adoption). The report will detail information regarding panel business, account of activities, training and information on key issues of interest and concern;
- To act as one of the agency advisers to panels, providing such advice as the panels may request in relation to any case or generally;
- To meet regularly with colleague managers acting as agency advisers to discuss issues relevant to and arising from adoption panels;
- To deal with complaints arising from the business of the panels, in consultation with the Service Manager (Adoption) where necessary.
See also Section 7.2, Adoption Panel Manager. In Adoption East Midlands, some of the responsibilities of the Agency Adviser as set out in the Adoption Guidance, are undertaken by the Adoption Panel Manager.
The agency adviser shall be a social worker who has at least five years' relevant post-qualifying experience, and relevant management experience. This role will be undertaken by the adoption manager interagency and ASSa, (and the Adoption Panel Manager).
The duties of the agency adviser are:
- To attend all panels;
- To give such advice to the panel or ADM as may be requested in relation to any case or generally;
- To ensure that the panels carry out the duties as set out in these procedures;
- To Quality Assure all CPR's which go direct to Agency Decision Maker;
- To assist the panels in carrying out their duty to monitor the quality of work from the agency;
- To input the panel's recommendation onto Framework for each case within 24 hours of the panel meeting, and alert the agency decision maker;
- To receive the draft panel minutes and check for accuracy.
The Agency Adviser is not a Panel member and cannot take part in the decision-making process. They should be able to contribute to panel meetings by raising issues and providing advice, for example about the agency’s procedures and practices.
The Agency Adviser should maintain an overview of the quality of the agency’s reports, to both the Panel and to the Agency Decision Maker, and liaise with Team Managers to quality assure the Child’s Permanence Report, the Prospective Adopter’s Report and the Adoption Placement Report. Where there are concerns about a report to the Panel, the Agency Adviser and the Panel chair should consider whether it is adequate for submission to the Panel. It will be for the Agency Adviser alone to decide whether a report is adequate for submission to the Agency Decision Maker.
The Agency Adviser should also update the Panel on the general progress of cases it has considered. This is particularly important where the Panel’s recommendation or advice was not accepted.
The Adoption Panel Co-ordinator provides administrative support to the Panel Manager and works in conjunction with the Panel Manager to ensure the smooth running of all aspects of panels. The duties include:
Meetings of the Adoption Panel
- Set panel dates and booking venue;
- Circulate dates to panel chairs and members, advisers, agency decision makers and other interested parties;
- Receive and respond to requests for panel dates;
- Maintain an online panel booking and quoracy system;
- Receive and collate reports for panel, arranging for them to be copied and sent to panel members in advance of panel;
- Set the panel agenda;
- Receive apologies from panel members and monitor implications for quoracy;
- Alert the Panel Manager to any difficulties or problems arising from any of the above;
- Ensure that a minute taker is available for each panel meeting and that minutes are produced promptly.
Panel Membership
- Set up and maintain personal files on panel members;
- Maintain and update Panel Members Handbook;
- Collate recruitment and induction material;
- Co-ordinate DBS checks;
- Send out appointment letters;
- Monitor attendance at panel;
- Maintain contact details of Central List members;
- Maintain information sheet re Central List members.
Panel Training
- Work with the Panel Manager to set dates for panel training twice per year;
- Circulate dates to panel chairs and members, advisers, Agency Decision Makers and other interested parties;
- Arrange venues and refreshments;
- Send out invitations and programmes etc;
- Copy hand-outs;
- Monitor attendance;
- Distribute and collate evaluation forms;
- Provide admin support at the training events themselves;
- Post Panel notifications;
- Ensure that these are completed in accordance with the Regulations.
The Adoption Panel Co-ordinator also attends the quarterly Panel Review meeting.
- Attend panel meetings to minute the discussion and recommendations (this task is shared with a colleague in recognition of the frequency of panels and the need to produce draft minutes to a tight deadline);
- Make draft minutes available to the agency decision maker and panel chair within 7 working days of panel;
- Produce final minutes.
- Each panel is required to have a legal adviser who will not be a full member of the panel;
- The legal adviser must provide prior advice in person or in writing to the panel regarding any item placed before the panel under the Adoption Agency Regulations 2005;
- Legal advisers should be practicing solicitors, with relevant experience in child and family law;
- The legal adviser will receive reports of all cases presented to the panel;
- The legal adviser will provide advice in writing to the panel, and to the ADM.
Prospective adopters can refer themselves to the IRM if the agency decision maker:
- Is minded to decide that an assessment should not continue on the basis of a brief prospective adopters' report;
- Is minded not to approve a prospective adopter on the basis of a full prospective adopters' report;
- Is minded to withdraw the approval of an adopter.
The agency will provide full details of the IRM to the applicant or adopter in the above circumstances
On receiving a notification from the IRM that prospective or approved adopters have applied for a review, the agency will supply the information identified in the Adoption Agencies Regulations 2005 (Regulation 28) to the IRM within ten working days
Two agency representatives will attend the IRM panel. These will be the assessing social worker and such other person as the Service Manager (Adoption) sees fit (e.g. adoption Team Manager, agency decision maker, panel chair).
Complaints received in relation to the process of an application to adopt, or relating to any other adoption-related service provided by Adoption East Midlands will be dealt with through the Nottinghamshire County Council’s Complaints Procedure.
The adoption panel will be informed of the outcome where appropriate.
Appendix 1: Adoption Panel: Values
Appendix 3: Annual Appraisal Form
Appendix 4: Adoption Welfare Checklist
Appendix 5: Confidentiality Undertaking - Observers
Appendix 6: Protocol for Dealing with Incomplete Information
Appendix 7: Formats for Reports to Adoption Panel
Appendix 8: Job Description and Person Specification (Independent Panel Chair)
Last Updated: June 27, 2023
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