Can An Adoption Panel Stop Me Adopting?

Technically an adoption panel does not have the authority to refuse an application to adopt or foster. The power to approve or disapprove an application stays with the adoption agency and is usually invested in a very senior member of staff who is known in the adoption field as the "decision maker" although this is not their job title. They can decline to accept the recommendation of a panel. In practice this rarely happens as they know that panels are usually very careful and thoughtful in their deliberations. If you are turned down for any reason you do have a right of appeal to the decision maker. You have 28 days to appeal to the adoption agency (either a local authority or an independent agency) in writing or you can appeal through a process known as the Independent Review Mechanism.

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