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.

AMENDMENT

This chapter was refreshed in February 2023.
  1. 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 42 days after the placement breaking down, and will follow a set agenda;

    The Adoption Service will arrange for a review to be completed independently by an experienced practitioner or manager from outside the adoption service not involved in the line management of the case responsible social worker;

  2. The Disruption review/report will be convened by the independently by an experienced practitioner or manager from outside the adoption service not involved in the line management of the case responsible social worker; who will interview and gather information from the adoptive parents, their social worker, the child's Independent Reviewing Officer and any other relevant people. This person will also consult the electronic case record and any relevant paperwork completed. The person completing the review/report will also ensure that the child's views and feelings are given to the meeting in the most appropriate way;

  3. Any recommendations will be shared with the agencies adoption decision maker and Head of Service who will consider any actions or training opportunities for all staff;

  4. Where an Adoption Placement Plan is terminated before the adoptive placement takes place (i.e. during introductions), the adoption social worker for an in-house approved family, or the child's social worker in the case of an inter-agency placement, will prepare a report for the Adoption Panel. The report must outline the reasons for the breakdown;

  5. In all such cases, the Independent reviewing officer may consider whether the plan for the child should be reviewed and presented to the Agency Decision maker for a change of care plan from adoption;

  6. The Adoption panel should 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.