Can approval panel be moved at the last minute?

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Hiya. Firmly in our social worker sessions now which are going a lot better. SW has made lots of positive comments about we are doing well and that things are progressing. We have a panel date set in July but yesterday she commented that it's what she's aiming for and that, although there will be 7 weeks between panel and our last session for her to write the report, she can't guarantee it. We've already booked time off work and my mum has too, but more than that we have it set in our heads that's the day we will have panel! Also the agency said it should take 3 weeks from the end of the session and they also told me the date was set it stone, it's just the SW that isn't sure. I'm not moaning I know she's mega busy but it's a tad frustrating and I wondered if anyone else had a similar thing?

Oues was moved back twice, both times 2-3 weeks before the date.

3rd time lucky... Confirmed 3 weeks before the date verbally and a week or two before in writing.

Panel isn't confirmed until it's confirmed and the date you've been given is only indicative... Probably not what you want to hear, but better to know now..,

Three weeks before panel, PAR had just been finished and signed off, we wanted to book my mother's flight as she will be looking after DS whilst we go to panel. So we thought we'd just check that panel would go ahead, seeing as SW had been struggling to meet the deadlines. I.e. we meant to ask 'did she manage to get everything finished and sent off in time for this panel'. Her answer was basically yes, she did get everything done, not in time but it was ok. However, panel dates couldn't be absolutely certain until maybe 4 or 5 days before.

Our SW was busy with other things for about 5 weeks between last seeing us and writing up the PAR, and then spent a frantic couple of days e-mailing backwards and forwards and writing the PAR which was already late at that time. But so far it still seems we are going to panel as originally booked.

Hope it works out for you. The waiting is bad enough without sudden panel cancellations thrown into the mix!

Ok cool I didn't realise this at all. We have already had it in writing and had to sign to agree to that date so as far as I was aware it was set in stone. I guess all I can do is wait and be glad it's going well. Oh and I should probably let my boss know as I suspect I'll be needing that days holiday later! Thanks for your help guys

Panel dates get moved all the time. It;s just one of the many ways they have devised to try to drive you insane. If you turn up to panel with some semblance of normality after jumping through all the hoops, you get approved on that basis alone.

I went to panel twice (for the same adoption)

And am still sane

That's a matter of opinion Kew

It is.

And my opinion is I'M SANE

Haha brilliant. Ok coolio. I'll sit here and hold on to my sanity while I still have it. Thanks guys.

Mine was moved x 2 about two weeks before. We are now due to go in a week (eek) and this time we have (a) a PAR (b) a time so I am cautiously optimistic. Plus terrified. Plus annoyed there is a tube strike.

What everyone else said.

Also....I've known several people lose their panel slot due to a matching panel needing their slot. I was told mid way through my assessment that approvals often get bumped for matches, so was advised to keep that at the back of my mind!

Our panel was moved on the Friday before our previously due on Tuesday panel. Was fustraiting but not much we could do about it. We had booked the day off so went out for the day instead.

Our panel was delayed a week on the day before, very hard to deal with at the time. But on a positive note we were approved and our little girl is now placed with us

Given that it is now about two weeks to panel, for us, this thread has made me expect 'the call' (to say that panel has been cancelled for us) every time the phone rings... sigh...