Family law

The decision to ratify the Agency Adoption Panels decision and to begin the process of applying for a placement order must never be a simple rubber stamp. Panel members should be made fully and properly aware of all the available material relevant to their decision.

It is a matter of judgment for the local authority medical adviser to the panel in each case to decide whether or not panel members need to read any expert report, or whether a summary of it will suffice.

There is, however, a clear duty on the local authority which is conducting the care proceedings to ensure both that all relevant material is made available to the panel, and that the material placed before it is accurate.