68. On receipt of the adoption panel’s or review panel’s recommendation, advice and minutes of the meeting, the agency’s decision maker must make a decision in accordance with AAR 27.8 – see paragraph 61 above and chapter 1. This requires them to take into account the further recommendation of the adoption panel (if any) or, where the review panel has made a recommendation, to take account of that recommendation and the recommendation of the original adoption panel before coming to a final decision. As with the original determination, if the decision maker remains minded not to approve the prospective adopter, they should discuss the case with a senior colleague within the agency.
69. Once the decision is made, the prospective adopter should be informed orally of the decision within two working days and written confirmation should be sent to them within five working days. Where the decision is not to approve the prospective adopter, the agency must provide the reasons for the decision. If the adoption panel’s or review panel’s recommendation was different, a copy of that recommendation must also be provided to the prospective adopter. In respect of a case referred to the review panel, the IRM contract manager must also be given written notification of the decision. See chapter 1 for the address of the IRM.
