PART 2ADOPTION AGENCY - ARRANGEMENTS FOR ADOPTION WORK

Requirement to appoint an agency adviser to the adoption panel8

1

The adoption agency must appoint a senior member of staff, or in the case of a joint adoption panel the local authorities whose panel it is must by agreement appoint a senior member of staff of one of them, (referred to in this regulation as the “agency adviser”)—

a

to assist the agency with the appointment (including re-appointment), termination and review of appointment of members of the adoption panel;

b

to be responsible for the induction and training of members of the adoption panel;

c

to be responsible for liaison between the agency and the adoption panel, monitoring the performance of members of the adoption panel and the administration of the adoption panel; and

d

to give such advice to the adoption panel as the panel may request in relation to any case or generally.

2

The agency adviser must be a social worker and have at least five years' relevant post-qualifying experience and, in the opinion of the adoption agency, relevant management experience.