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3.11.5 Adoption Register for England and Wales

Contents

  1. Targeted Referral System 
  2. When to Refer 
  3. How to Refer 
  4. Change of Information Forms 
  5. Register Services 
  6. Adopter Services  

The Adoption Register for England and Wales is operated by the British Association for Adoption and Fostering (BAAF).

The Register operates a targeted referral system and choice of referral methods detailed below.


1. Targeted Referral System

  • It is not necessary to refer every child or family
  • Children and families should only be referred to the Register when they are not being actively being considered for a potential match with potential, named adopters or children.
  • Each agency will have one named co-ordinator as central communication point for the Register.  In K & C  this will be  Rochelle Duffy ext. 4454


2. When to Refer

For Children:  referrals can be made either

  • At point of the decision that a child should be placed for adoption.  If legal proceedings are in progress and child still subject of Interim Care Order referral can be made provided necessary consents and court’s agreement have been obtained,  or
  • Following a period of 3 months in which the Agency has sought a local or consortium match.

For Adopters:  referrals will be made either:

  • At the point the family is approved for adoption,  or
  • Following the 3 month holding period after approval

Adopters have the option, three months after approval, to self refer using the Adopter Self Referral Form (AD02).  A copy is available in paper form in FPU or this can be downloaded from the Adoption Register for England and Wales website Adopters Helpline is 0970 750 2176.  Adopters should be given this information by their social worker.


3. How to Refer

  1. A paper based system will continue to operate.  The referral forms are AD01 and AC01.  Copies are available in FPU and can also be obtained from the web site address above.  They should be sent to:

    The Adoption Register for England and Wales
    Unit 4, Pavilion Business Park
    Royds Hall Road, 
    Wortley, Leeds, LS12 6 AJ
    Tel: 0870 750 2173  Fax:0870 750 2174
    e-mail: mail@adoptionregister.org.uk
  2. E-mail  should not be used other than through a Secure Document Management Portal – the FPU co-ordinator will have the unique link (URL) to the portal site which will be totally secure.  The portal site provides instructions for the transfer of electronic versions of forms to the Adoption Register.  This will operate from 1st December 2005 and further details can be accessed from the Adoption Register for England and Wales website
  3. Also from 1 December it will be possible to submit part 1 of in-house electronic forms E and F through the secure web-based document management system instead of completing the referral forms.
  4. It is likely that Inspections will look at delay in referral and the reasons for this.


4. Change of Information Forms

Forms used to notify the Register of a change in circumstances of children or adopters are now forms AD03 and AC03 – copies in National Adoption Register file held by  Adoption Business Support Officer, Rochelle Duffy, ext. 4454.  Please ensure they are photocopied and original left in file.  To update the Register a phone call or e-mail is all that is needed and it is important to keep the information up to date to avoid time being wasted in following up links  that are no longer active.


5. Register Services

The Register will provide up to five links for a child or adopter.  These links could also be provided to other agencies simultaneously so it is important to act quickly.  The Register is using full names and not just numbers for easier identification.

The Register will do searches in order to provide statistical or specific  information for the Courts.


6. Adopter Services

There is an adopters’ dedicated telephone helpline (0970 750 2176) in order that adopters can contact the Register directly.  Staff , once identity is confirmed, will be able to give information as to whether adopter is on referral to the Register and about the number of times the adopter’s details have been sent out as a possible link.  The adopter will be referred back to their own social worker for information re follow ups to the links given.  When the full enablement of the data base is implemented adopters will be allowed secure on line access to their own file together with non identifying information about children with whom a possible link has been suggested and the reasons given for this not being pursued where known.

End