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

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Latest Local Government News

Local Government weekly highlights—3 July 2025

This week's edition of Local Government weekly highlights includes: case analysis of Norton v London Borough of Haringey, in which the court considers whether an LHA can determine the suitability of offered accommodation if it has not prepared a lawful assessment under HA 1996, s 189A(1) and Surrey CC v R (BC), in which the Court of Appeal provides an overview of the time frames involved for bringing a claim for judicial review, confirmation of when an LA is duty-bound to accommodate a child under ChA 1989, s 20 and clarity on the alternative methods that can be employed to children not deemed a ‘child in need’ and not requiring accommodation. Case reports include Mother v LA (ALC and CoramBAAF intervening), in which the court ruled that it was not in the child’s best interest for the court to make sibling contact order while granting a placement for adoption order for the younger child as it might deter potential adopters; X and Y v BBC, in which the court found BBC’s application for access to documents from care proceedings to be aimed at issues outside scope of court’s functioning and should be pursued through other mechanisms; Anwar v Ealing LBC, in which the court affirmed that construction of a crossover outside the appellant property under HA 1980, s 184(11) was lawful as statutory provisions do not require consent of adjacent affected property owners; Smith v Great Yarmouth Magistrates Court, in which the court dismissed an appeal against obstruction of a highway under HA 1980, s 137 with the central issue being whether land adjacent to Vauxhall Bridge constituted a public highway under HA 1980, s 31; and North Warwickshire BC v The Defendants, in which the court allowed the application for a final injunction brought by the LA to restrict protest activities at Kingsbury Oil Terminal. It also includes latest coverage on the implementation of Awaab’s Law including the government’s consultation response and draft guidance. It includes further updates on Social housing, Public procurement, Education, Local government finance, Social care, Licensing and Planning.

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