Can Prospective Adopters Attend The Adoption Panel That Considers Their Application?

Increasingly adoption agencies are encouraging prospective adopters to attend panel meetings so that they can answer any queries the panel members might have. This is thought to help avoid delayed decisions when panels refer the paperwork back to the adoption social worker because information they considered to be important is missing. Adoption panels are made up of a mix of professionals and lay people. They see all the reports about prospective adopters and foster parents before the meeting. In the meeting they often ask the social worker who has assessed the prospective parents questions to check on issues relating to their suitability. They also take advice from one another. For example, a prospective adopter might have health issues which a lay person does not understand. The panel's medical representative can give or seek an expert opinion as to whether that health matter is likely to affect their ability to parent.

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