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The laws which govern adoption in the UK place the
needs and welfare of the child at centre of the
process.
The
Adoption
and Children Act 2002 makes the child's welfare paramount in
all court and adoption agency decisions relating to adoption -
including parental consent to adoption.
The other key principles covered by this legislation include the
following:
- Preventing delay - Emphasises the need for undue delay in
planning for permanence and adoption when children cannot be cared
for by their own birth family
- Promoting planning for permanence - Widens the options for
adoption and permanency by extending residence orders to 18 years
where appropriate and new special guardianship legislation
- Broadening the range of potential adoptive parents -
Prospective adopters can now include unmarried couples, single
people and same sex couples
- Taking a lifelong view of adoption - Acknowledges the lifelong
impact of adoption on those involved requiring adoption agencies to
assess the support needs of those affected by adoption. Also sets
out a far more consistent approach to the release of sensitive and
identifying information held in adoption records
For further information please read the
Adoption
and Children Act 2002 or contact our
Adoption and Fostering Team on 01275 888
999. |