Paragraph 8
Conclusions
(This part of the report should contain more than a simple synopsis of the information above. As far as possible, the court should be given a fuller picture of the child, his natural parents and, where appropriate, the prospective adopter) –
except where the applicant or one of them is a parent of the child, a summary by the medical adviser to the body supplying the report, of the health, history and state of health of the child, his natural parents and, if appropriate, the prospective adopter, with comments on the implications for the order sought and on how any special health needs of the child might be met;
opinion on whether making the order sought would be in the child’s best long-term interests, and on how any special emotional, behavioural and educational needs of the child might be met;
opinion on the effect of the child’s natural parents of making the order sought;
if the child has been placed for adoption, opinion on the likelihood of full integration of the child into the household, family and community of the prospective adopter, and on whether the proposed adoption would be in the best long-term interests of the prospective adopter;
opinion, if appropriate, on the relative merits of adoption and custody; and
final conclusions and recommendations whether the order sought should be made (and, if not, alternative proposals).