 that the parent or guardian fully understands the consequences of giving consent and that they are willing to do so unconditionally (section 52(5) of the Act). The CAFCASS officer will then need to witness the formal signing by the parent or guardian of the consent to placement form, sign the form themselves and then notify the agency in writing, including the consent form with the notification. The CAFCASS officer must keep a copy of the original form. 2.86. The agency must place the original consent form on the child’s adoption case record, and must be ready to provide it to the court - delivering it by hand or sending it by recorded delivery - when the prospective adopter make their application to the court for an adoption order. A copy of the consent form will not be acceptable. Any notice that the parent does not wish to be informed of an 54 application for an adoption order, or withdrawal of such a statement, must also be kept on the child’s case record. 2.87. Where the CAFCASS officer is not satisfied that the parents wish to give their full consent, or has doubts that they fully understand its implications, or considers that they are not competent to give consent, they will be directed by CAFCASS guidance to notify the agency. In these circumstances consent cannot be given, and it will be necessary to make an application for a placement order. 2.88. Where a parent or guardian lives outside England and Wales and is prepared to give their consent, the agency is required by AAR 20A.1 to arrange for an ‘authorised person’ to witness the consent. The agency is also required to send to that person the information specified in Schedule 2. AAR 20A.2 stipulates that an authorised person is:  in Scotland, a Justice of the Peace or a Sheriff  in Northern Ireland, a Just