Re S (a child) (placement order: revocation) [2008] All ER (D) 48 (Oct)
There are three necessary stages in the statutory placement of a child:
(i) it has to be considered whether adoption is in the best interests of the child; if it is, the local authority has to apply for a placement order;
(ii) once a placement order is granted, it is the responsibility of the adoption panel to consider whether the adopter is approved;
(iii) if so, it has to be decided whether the child is matched to the adopter. A child is not considered to be placed under s 24 of the Adoption and Children Act 2002 unless all three stages have been accomplished.