Checklist for Child's Adoption File

Caption: Check list for Child's Adoption File
Section Heading	Document Title	Copy Enclosed
Birth and Birth Family	Birth details (time, place, weight) with supporting evidence if available. Description/details (including family tree) of family/household born into. Medical forms (or extracts of) on birth parents. Details of siblings, together with any assessments and decisions to place brothers and sisters separately, including minutes of relevant meetings.	Yes	No
Child	Name and address of any early substitute carers. Record of photos, certificates and other mementos from early years which have been supplied to the adopter(s). Health reports on the child Looked After Review minutes from the point when adoption was identified as the plan Case Notes relating to the period after a decision has been made that the child is suitable to be placed for adoption Child's Permanence Report and other documents presented for Panel recommendation and agency decision that the child should be placed for adoption. Adoption Panel and Agency Decision Maker minutes, recommendations and decisions that the child should be placed for adoption, including records of discussions held by the Agency Decision Maker with non-Panel members. Record of social work with child about adoption, including recording of direct work Copy of Care Order and any Interim Care Orders
Adoptive Family and the Adoptive Placement	Prospective Adopter's Report (excluded from access by the adoptee) and other documents presented for Panel recommendation and agency decision that the prospective adopters are suitable to adopt. Copy of the profile(s) of the child used for family finding. Adoption Placement Report and other documents presented for Panel recommendation and agency decision that the child should be placed with the particular prospective adopters. Adoption Support Plan Adoption Panel and Agency Decision Maker minutes, recommendations and decisions relating to the approval of the prospective adopters and the approval of the 'match', including records of discussions held by the Agency Decision Maker with non-Panel members. Adoption Placement Plan and any amendments List and copies of information supplied to adopters Written agreement to placement, signed by parents, where child is less than 6 weeks old (if applicable) Parental Consent to Adoptive Placement and/or Advance Parental Consent to adoption witnessed by CAFCASS officer (if applicable) Copy of Placement Order
Post Adoptive Placement	Copy of all the Adoption Notifications. Record of photographs, cards and letters supplied for the child by the birth family which have been given to the adopter(s). Later Life letter from the child's social worker outlining the circumstances of the adoption plan Assessments, correspondence and signed agreements relating to post-placement and post-adoption contact. Copy of court report and any other Court documents including Placement Order application (if applicable) and adoption application Reports of statutory and other visits post placement pre adoption. Records of Adoption Reviews carried out post placement pre adoption. Copy of any disruption meeting minutes.
Adoption Order	Copy of adoption order.
Post Adoption	Any Veto - absolute or qualified - registered by the adopted person Any recording relating to birth records counselling of the adoptee or requests for access to the Adoption File
N.B. Case Notes relating to the period after a decision has been made that the child is suitable to be placed for adoption should be located in this file.

Last Updated: March 6, 2025