Regulation 8 Duties of adoption agencies in making arrangements for freeing for adoption
An adoption agency which is a local authority shall not make application for an order under section 18 of the Act (freeing a child for adoption) unless–
the adoption agency has, so far as is reasonably practicable, ascertained the particulars set out in Part I of Schedule 2;
the adoption agency has obtained a report prepared within the previous 12 months by a fully registered medical practitioner as to the health of the child;
the adoption agency has prepared a written report containing its observations on the matters referred to in this regulation and has passed that report, together with all information obtained by it by virtue of this regulation, to the adoption panel or to another adoption agency; and
the adoption agency, after considering all the information obtained in pursuance of this regulation and having regard to the recommendation of the adoption panel under regulation 11 and all other circumstances, has concluded in accordance with sections 6 and 6A of the Act that adoption is likely to best meet the needs of the child, and that either–
regulations 17(2), or regulation 18(3) or (5) apply to the case of the child; or
the welfare of the child would be best met by the making of an application for an order under section 18 of the Act at that time whether or not the child has been placed with a person with a view to his being adopted by that person.