The Regulated Adoption Services (Service Providers and Responsible Individuals) and Adoption Support Services (Local Authorities) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) Regulations 2026

• Citation: S.I. 2026/53 (W.)
• Sections: 8

Section 1 Title and coming into force

The title of these Regulations is the Regulated Adoption Services (Service Providers and Responsible Individuals) and Adoption Support Services (Local Authorities) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) Regulations 2026 and they come into force on 1 April 2026.

Section 2 Interpretation

In these Regulations—

“ the 2005 Regulations ” (“ Rheoliadau 2005 ”) means the Adoption Support Services (Local Authorities) (Wales) Regulations 2005 ;

“ the 2019 Regulations ” (“ Rheoliadau 2019 ”) means the Regulated Adoption Services (Service Providers and Responsible Individuals) (Wales) Regulations 2019 .

Section 3 Amendments to the 2019 Regulations

(1) The 2019 Regulations are amended as follows.

(2) In regulation 3 (exceptions)—

(a) in paragraph (1)—

(i) omit the paragraph number “(1)” ;

(ii) for sub-paragraph (e) substitute—

(e) the provision of adoption support services by a person who provides those services solely under a contract for services with—

(i) a regulated adoption service, or

(ii) a local authority adoption service;

(f) the provision of counselling in relation to adoption by a person who provides that service solely to individuals who have attained the age of 18.

(b) omit paragraph (2).

Section 4 Amendments to the 2005 Regulations

(1) The 2005 Regulations are amended as follows.

(2) In regulation 2 (interpretation), in paragraph (1), at the appropriate place in alphabetical order, insert—

“ birth parent ” (“ rhiant geni ”) has the same meaning as natural parent in the context of the 2002 Act, and other references to relationships by birth are to be construed in the same way;

(3) For regulation 3 (prescribed services) substitute—

(1) For the purposes of section 2(6)(b) of the 2002 Act, the following services are prescribed as adoption support services (in addition to counselling, advice and information) —

(a) financial support payable under regulation 11;

(b) services to enable groups of adoptive children, adoptive parents, and birth parents or former guardians of an adoptive child, to discuss matters relating to adoption;

(c) assistance to adoptive children, adoptive parents, birth parents or former guardians of an adoptive child, and related persons, in relation to arrangements for contact between an adoptive child and a birth parent, former guardian or a related person of the adoptive child;

(d) services that may be provided to an adoptive family in relation to the therapeutic needs of an adoptive child;

(e) assistance for the purpose of ensuring the continuance of the relationship between the child and the child’s adoptive parent, including—

(i) training for adoptive parents for the purpose of meeting any special needs of the child arising from their adoption; and

(ii) subject to paragraph (2), respite care; and

(f) assistance where disruption of an adoption placement has occurred or is in danger of occurring including—

(i) mediation; and

(ii) organising and holding meetings to discuss disruptions in adoption placements.

(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1)(e)(ii), respite care consisting of the provision of accommodation must be accommodation provided by or on behalf of a local authority under section 81 of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 or by a voluntary organisation under section 59 of the Children Act 1989 .

(3) For the purposes of paragraph (1)(f), “ disruption of an adoption placement ” means disruption of adoption arrangements at any point from and including when a child is introduced to prospective adopters, through the period of placement and beyond the making of an adoption order.

(4) In regulation 4 (persons for whom arrangements must be in place)—

(a) for paragraph (4)(c) substitute—

(c) a birth parent or former guardian of a child who has been placed for adoption or has been adopted following such placement.

(b) for paragraph (5)(c) (but not the “and” after it) substitute—

(c) a birth parent or former guardian of a child who has been placed for adoption or has been adopted following such placement;

(5) In regulation 5 (provision of services), in paragraph (1)(bb), for “an individual” substitute “a person” .

Section 5 Minor and consequential amendments to the 2005 Regulations

Additional minor amendments and consequential amendments to the 2005 Regulations are contained in the Schedule.

Section 1 Introduction

The 2005 Regulations are amended as follows.

Section 2 Amendments to terminology

In the following provisions, in each place that it appears, for “natural” substitute “birth” —

(a) regulation 2(1), in the definitions of “ adoptive parent ” and “ non-agency adoptive child ”;

(b) regulation 4(2)(a), (c) and (d);

(c) regulation 7(1)(b).

Section 3 Consequential amendments

In regulation 4 (persons for whom arrangements must be in place)—

(a) in paragraph (4), for “3(b)” substitute “3(1)(b)” ;

(b) in paragraph (5), for “3(c)” substitute “3(1)(c)” ;

(c) in paragraph (6), for “3(d)” substitute “3(1)(d)” ;

(d) in paragraph (7), for “3(e)” substitute “3(1)(e)” ;

(e) in paragraph (9), for “(3)(b)” substitute “3(1)(b)” .