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The Adoption and Permanency Panel is responsible for overseeing the running of the local authority's adoption service and receives annual reports on the service and its performance.

Its function is to make recommendations on whether a child should be placed for adoption, whether a prospective adopter is suitable to adopt a child, and whether a child should be placed for adoption with a particular prospective adopter. The Panel also gives advice on permanency planning issues for all Looked After Children.

In this manual, this is referred to as the Child's Plan.

A Child's Plan should be drawn up for children who are not Looked After, but are identified as Children in Need who requiring services to meet their needs. It should be completed following an Assessment where services are identified as necessary.

Under the Integrated Children's System, if a Child is subject to a Child Protection Plan, it is recorded as part of the Child's Plan

Every Looked After child must have a Health Care Assessment soon after becoming Looked After, then at specified intervals - depending on the child's age. The Health Care Assessment should inform a Health Care Plan (also referred to as a Health Action Plan) normally incorporated into a child's Care Plan and Placement Plan.