POLICY

Title: 	Determining which persons on the adoption expression of interest register will be assessed 
Policy No:           CPD618-2

Policy Statement:
The Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services will select couples to assess from the expression of interest register who have profiles relevant to meeting the needs of children requiring adoptive placements.

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. 
·	Inclusion of a person’s name in the expression of interest register does not confer an entitlement on the person to be selected to have his or her suitability to be an adoptive parent assessed.
·	The factors considered in selecting couples to be assessed include the anticipated needs of children likely to require an adoptive placement and the profile of suitable adoptive parents already included on the suitable adoptive parent register.

Objectives:
To ensure couples selected to be assessed are likely, based on their profiles, to be able to meet the anticipated needs of children requiring adoptive placements.

To secure the best possible adoptive placement for a child requiring an adoptive placement. 

To ensure people considering adoption or expressing an interest in being assessed for suitability to be adoptive parents have informed expectations about the number of children likely to require adoptive placements and their likely placements needs.

To ensure people whose names are on the expression of interest register are provided with information about how selection for assessment occurs.

Scope:
This policy does not apply to the selection of persons to be assessed to meet the needs of a particular child (section 89).

Roles and Responsibilities:
Adoption and Specialist Support Services will: 
·	have regard to the profiles of people already listed in the suitable adoptive parents register when determining the profile of people on the expression of interest register to be selected for assessment
·	only select couples for assessment if, based on their profile, they are likely to be able to meet the anticipated placement needs of children requiring adoptive placements. In deciding whether a couple is likely to meet children’s anticipated placement needs, the couple’s profile, including their characteristics and the preferences they have expressed relevant to adopting a child, are taken into account. 
Adoption and Specialist Support Services will determine the profile of couples likely to be able to meet the future placement needs of children, having regard to the: 
·	likely characteristics of children who will require an adoptive family, such as their age, social and cultural backgrounds and any possible medical needs and 
·	types of preferences likely to be expressed by the birth parents about the upbringing they would like for their child who is to be adopted, such as the child’s religious upbringing, characteristics of the  adoptive parents and family and the degree of openness they would like in any adoption arrangement or
·	requirements and preferences specified by each overseas adoption authority, where relevant.
Adoption and Specialist Support Services will, in deciding whom to select for assessment, give priority to a couple: 
·	with the same ethnic background as children to be adopted or 
·	who has previously adopted a child with similar placement needs as children to be adopted or
·	with the earliest relevant expression of interest. 

Couples whose names are entered in the expression of interest register will ensure Adoption and Specialist Support Services is informed of any changes to their circumstances and preference relating to the characteristics of a child who they are willing to adopt or a country which they wish to be considered.

Authority:
Adoption Act 2009, sections 5, 73, 88 and 91.  

Delegations:
Executive Director, Operations
Manager, Adoption and Specialist Support Services Queensland
Team Leader, Adoption and Specialist Support Services Queensland

Records File No.: 	CHS/16721
Date of approval:	04 March 2013
Date of operation:	12 March 2013
Date to be reviewed:	04 March 2016  

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) 
Closing the expression of interest register (619)
Determining the number of adoption assessments to be undertaken in a financial year (617)
Rescinded Policy: 
2.3 CHS/16721 Determining the order in which people on the expression of interest register will be assessed
207-2 Determining the order in which people on the adoption expression of interest register will be assessed 
618-1 Determining which persons on the adoption expression of interest register will be assessed

Margaret Allison
Director-General