A placement order will often be made at the final hearing in care proceedings, at the same time as a care order. This is because a care plan for adoption can only be put into cation if children’s services have the court’s permission to place the child with prospective adopters.
Sometimes placement order proceedings happen separately. But this is usually soon after the care proceedings have ended. And only if in the care proceedings the Family Court decided a plan of adoption was best for the child. And a care order was made.
It is important for parents and families to be aware that the placement order stage is a key time when decisions are made about whether or not a child can go on to be adopted. So parents must ensure they have sought legal advice from a specialist children law solicitor for the care and placement order proceedings.