POLICY 

Title: 	Regular re-assessment of persons whose names are included in the suitable adoptive parents register  
Policy No:          CPD623-4

Policy Statement:
The Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services will ensure persons whose names are included on the suitable adoptive parents register are 
re-assessed at intervals of no greater than four years.

Principles:
•	The wellbeing and best interests of an adopted child, both through childhood and the rest of his or her life, are paramount considerations in all adoption matters. 
•	It is in the children’s interest for the suitable adoptive parents register to contain only the names of people who are immediately able to meet the needs of children requiring an adoptive placement. For this reason, it is essential that a couple’s suitability to be adoptive parents is re-assessed at regular intervals. 
•	Inclusion in the suitable adoptive parent register does not confer an entitlement on the person to be selected as a prospective adoptive parent for a child.

Objectives:
This policy aims to ensure that the assessment of couples, whose names are entered in the suitable adoptive parents register and whose circumstances comply with eligibility for inclusion in the expression of interest register requirements under the Adoption Act 2009, remains current and based on up-to-date information to promote the best interests of children requiring placement with adoptive parents.

Scope:
This policy applies to a decision to re-assess a person because of the time that has passed since the person’s assessment. 
The policy does not apply to a decision to re-assess a person for other reasons outlined in section 140(2). 
The policy applies regardless of whether the re-assessment is a full assessment (as if it were an original assessment) or is an assessment of only particular matters as required at the time re-assessment. 
The policy does not apply to persons whose circumstances do not comply with eligibility for inclusion in the expression of interest register requirements under the Adoption Act 2009.

Roles and Responsibilities:
Adoption Services will ensure couples whose names are included in the suitable adoptive parents register are re-assessed at an interval no greater than 4 years. Before commencing a re-assessment, Adoption Services will provide notice to the person being re-assessed, the reasons for the re-assessment, the matters that are to be considered as part of the re-assessment and any costs associated with the re-assessment. 
Couples whose names are entered in the suitable adoptive parents register: 
•	are responsible for ensuring Adoption Services are informed of any changes to their circumstances that may be relevant to their on-going suitability 
•	must provide any relevant information reasonably required to assess their suitability and 
•	may be required to meet the costs associated with their re-assessment, depending on the nature and scope of the re-assessment required to ensure the objectives of this policy are met. 

Authority:
Adoption Act 2009 sections 140(2)(b), 141, 142,143

Delegations:
Regional Director, Child Safety, South East Region
Assistant Regional Director, Child Safety, South East Region
Manager, Adoption Services
Senior Team Leader, Adoption Services

Records File No.: 	CHS-16721 
Date of approval:	04 June  2014
Date of operation:	05 September 2014
Date to be reviewed:	05 September 2017  

Office:	Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services
Help Contact:	Child Protection Development

Links:
Adoption Practice Manual 
Related Adoption policies: 
The wellbeing and best interest of the child in adoption (626)
Considering child protection history when assessing a person’s suitability to be an adoptive parent (616)
Rescinded policies:
2.8 CHS-16721 Regular re-assessment of persons whose names are included in the suitable adoptive parents register
623-2 Regular re-assessment of persons whose names are included in the suitable adoptive parents register

Michael Hogan
Director-General