ABSTRACT
Under the new Act, adoption can either be an agency adoption, where the child is placed by the adoption agency, or a non-agency adoption, where the child does not have to be placed by an adoption agency. The latter category would include step-parent adoptions and adoptions of the child by a foster carer. Whatever the type of adoption, the child will need to be placed with the prospective adopters before the adoption order can be made. The length of this placement will vary depending on who is adopting the child (Adoption and Children Act 2002 s 42). If the adoption is an agency adoption, students will need to be able to explain whether the child is placed with consent (Adoption and Children Act 2002 ss 19-20), or under a placement order (Adoption and Children Act 2002 ss 21-24). If the adoption is a non-agency adoption, prospective adopters will need to inform the local authority of their intention to adopt (Adoption and Children Act 2002 s 44).
