Adoption and foster care

Adoption

The Adoption and Children Act 2002 (ACA 2002) embodies the law on adoption and places a duty on local authorities to make arrangements for the provision of adoption support services to promote adoption as a means of providing permanent homes to looked after children. See Practice Note: General principles—adoption.

Placement orders

ACA 2002 provides a framework for authorising the placement of children for adoption under a placement order. A local authority may be obliged to apply for a placement order or may have discretion to apply for a placement order. See Practice Note: Adoption—placement orders.

Adoption orders

Local authority solicitors will generally advise about adoption applications in four situations:

1. •

   children who are the subject of placement orders, usually in the context of care proceedings

2. •

   children being placed for adoption with...