Regulation 3 Constitution and functions of panels

(1)

The Secretary of State shall, on receipt of the application by a prospective adopter made in accordance with regulation 9, constitute a panel for the purpose of reviewing a qualifying determination.

(2)

The members of the panel shall be appointed by the Secretary of State from a list of persons (in these Regulations referred to as “the central list”) kept by the Secretary of State.

(3)

The members of the central list shall include—

(a)

social workers;

(b)

registered medical practitioners; and

(c)

other persons who are considered by the Secretary of State to be suitable as members, to include, where reasonably practicable—

(i)

adopted persons who have reached the age of 18 years; and

(ii)

adoptive parents.

(4)

A panel established under paragraph (1) shall—

(a)

review the qualifying determination; and

(b)

make to the adoption agency which made the qualifying determination a recommendation as to whether or not a prospective adopter is suitable to be an adoptive parent.

(5)

In considering what recommendation to make, the panel—

(a)

must consider and take into account all of the information passed to it in accordance with regulation 11A of the 1983 Regulations;

(b)

may request the adoption agency to obtain any other relevant information which the panel considers necessary or to provide such other assistance as the panel may request; and

(c)

may obtain such legal advice as it considers necessary in relation to the case.