Do the panel give you a decision the same day?

[Evenstar]

A family member is going to panel in about 10 days having already been approved by the social worker and recommended to the panel. I just wondered if the panel would give an answer on the day or if it might take some time to consider the decision. TIA

We got a decision the same day. I think they let you know as soon as poss, knowing what a huge deal it is for you.

On the day usually. The social worker will present her report to them, and they discuss it. Then often the parents are called in to answer a couple of questions from the panel. They might be general questions, or the panel might want to clarify something they read in the homestudy. Sometimes the parents don't attend panel at all however - it's up to the LA. I attended all my panels both approval and matching. After they've talked enough they'll vote on whether to recommend the parents as adopters. The parents usually find out immediately from the social worker. I remember my SW walking out of the room with a big smile on her face, so she didn't need to say anything :)

However actually it isn't the panel who decide. They make a recommendation as to whether the parents should be approved. The panel's recommendation has to be ratified by the decision maker. The decision maker is the one who makes the official decision based on what the panel said. This is the bit that takes a few days. However I've never heard of the panel's decision being overturned at this stage. So if the panel say yes, they should consider themselves approved!

Anyway, the likelihood of being turned down is miniscule! Something like 94-96% pass panel, so there's no need to worry. It's very rare for the panel to have big concerns because the SW will have gone over everything already. SW's don't take couples to panel unless they are sure they'll pass it

If the agency's decision maker is at the panel ( normal in a small agency) they shoudl hear the same day

I didn't, there was an issue with my medical (actually there wasn't, there was an issue with my doctor but that's a whole other thread!). So I was given conditional approval subject to medical. Technically the panel approved my case a couple of months later when the wrinkle had been ironed out. I don;t resent my GP.. hardly at all... no siree

I spent two years as a member of an adoption panel and IIRC we turned down two in that whole time - one should never have come to panel since he did not pass the CRB check and had rather nasty child abuse convictions . The chair hauled the social worker over the coals for letting it go so far. The other was because a dog had been assessed as dangerous and unstable by the vet and the couple said they wouldn't get rid of it if they adopted.

We always tried to give decisions same day and I loved passing couples in the waiting area afterwards with the biggest happiest smiles on their faces.

Good luck to your relative, I am sure everything will go fine for them

Thank you so much everyone, I feel really reassured that this should go well for them

Decision nearly always same day - you go and wait in another room while they confer, then they come out to give you their decision. Our wait was an agonising 25 minutes at approval panel, and a much easier 10 minutes at matching.

The decision is subject to approval, and that comes through a few days later, but I can't imagine on what grounds the panel's recommendation would be overturned.

Hope all goes well