Disruption of Adoptive Placements
Scope of this chapter
This chapter applies to disruptions of adoptive placements, which occur prior to an Adoption Order having been made. Where a disruption takes place after an Adoption Order has been made, a Disruption Meeting may be held as part of the adoption support provided to the child and adoptive family in which case the same principles as set out in this chapter may be followed (The same principles and framework apply to disruption of fostering placements - see also Disruption Meetings Procedure).
Where an agency adoptive placement breaks down prior to the granting of an Adoption Order, a Disruption Meeting must be held to identify the reasons for the breakdown and to learn lessons from the events surrounding the breakdown. When endings are unplanned, then the welfare and well-being of children remain paramount and agency staff act at all times with this in mind.
The Disruption Meeting will be held no sooner than 28 days after and no later than 90 days after the placement breaking down, and will follow a set agenda.
The Team Manager, Independent Reviewing Officers will arrange for the meeting to be chaired independently by an experienced practitioner or manager from outside the local authority.
- The Disruption Meeting will be convened by the Safeguarding and Review Unit who will invite the prospective adoptive parents, their social worker, the current carers, the child's Independent Reviewing Officer and any other relevant people. The chair will ensure that the child's views and feelings are given to the meeting in the most appropriate way;
- In all adoption disruption cases the Adoption Panel may consider whether the prospective adopters' approval should be reconsidered, and these issues may need to be further investigated and reports be presented to a subsequent meeting.
Last Updated: July 30, 2024
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