Regulation 30B Adoption agency decision and notificationF1

Subject to paragraph (2), the adoption agency must F2, where reasonably practicable, 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 wish to proceed with the assessment process.

The adoption agency must not make a decision under paragraph (1) until it has obtained the information required under regulations 25 and 26.

The adoption agency may delay making the decision under paragraph (1)—

No member of the adoption panel may take part in any decision made by the adoption agency under paragraph (1).

Where the adoption agency decides to approve the prospective adopter as suitable to adopt a child, it must notify the prospective adopter of its decision.

Where the adoption agency considers that the prospective adopter is not suitable to adopt a child, it must—

Where regulation 27(1A) applies and the adoption agency considers that the prospective adopter is not suitable to adopt a child because of information obtained under regulation 25 or regulation 26, the prospective adopter may not apply to the Welsh Ministers for a review by an independent review panel of the qualifying determination.

If, within the period of 40 working days referred to in paragraph (5)(c), the prospective adopter has not made any representations or applied to the Welsh Ministers for a review by an independent review panel, the adoption agency must proceed to make its decision and notify the prospective adopter of its decision together with reasons for that decision.

If, within the period of 40 working days referred to in paragraph (5)(c), the adoption agency receives representations from the prospective adopter, it may refer the case together with all relevant information to the adoption panel for further consideration.

The adoption panel must consider any case referred to it under paragraph (7) and make a new recommendation to the adoption agency as to whether the prospective adopter is suitable to adopt a child.

The adoption agency must make a decision on the case but—

As soon as possible after making its decision under paragraph (9), the adoption agency must notify the prospective adopter of its decision, stating its reasons for that decision if they do not consider the prospective adopter suitable to adopt a child, and of the adoption panel’s recommendation under paragraph (8), if this is different from the agency’s decision.

In a case where an independent review panel has made a recommendation, the adoption agency must send to the Welsh Ministers a copy of the notification referred to in paragraph (10).