THE ADOPTION AGENCIES REGULATIONS 1983

(SI 1983/1964)

The Regulations supersede and replace with amendments the Adoption Agencies Regulations 1976.  The amendments take account of the bringing into operation on 27th May 1984 of the provisions specified in the Children Act 1975 and the Adoption Act 1976 (Commencement) Order 1983 (S.I. 1983/1946, in particular section 14 of the Children Act 1975 (Freeing child for adoption).

The Regulations make provision for the approval of adoption societies and for annual reports and information to be provided by such societies (Regulations 2 and 3).  They provide for the establishment of adoption panels by adoption agencies and arrangements to be made by agencies in relation to their adoption work (Regulation 4, 5 and 6).  They specify the procedures to be followed before and after a child is placed for adoption (Regulations 7 – 13).  They make provision for the confidentiality and preservation of case records and for access to case records and disclosure of information (Regulations 14 and 15).  They also make provision in respect of the transfer of case records between adoption agencies and progress reports to former parents of children who have been freed for adoption (Regulation 16 and 17).