Children Placed Against the Wishes of the Birth Parents
These children will already be known to the social work department and the Children's Hearing system. They will most likely be subject to a Supervision Requirement under Section 70 of the Social work (Scotland) Act 1995. Under the Children's Hearing system, a Children's Panel will make all of the important decisions, including where a child should live and who the child should have regular contact with.
When the social work department and a Foster and Adoption Panel have matched a child with an adoptive family a children's hearing must be held to decide whether the child may be moved into that family. The child will thereafter continue to be subject to a Supervision Requirement until the adoption order is granted.
Birth parents have a right to attend Children's hearings, and also to know where and with whom their children are living. These details may be withheld when it is not felt to be in the child's interest to share them e.g. when the child may be at risk from the parent.