ation 35 of, and Schedule 5 to, the Adoption Agencies Regulations 2005 (AAR) (see chapter 5). Notice of outcome of assessment: ASR 17 9.55. Once the assessment has been completed the local authority must give the person concerned notice of their proposed decision and to allow the person a specified time in which to make representations before a final decision is made. ASR 17.3 sets out the information that the notice must contain, and ASR 17.4 requires that, if it is proposed to provide services, a copy of the draft plan accompanies the notice. Where the assessment relates to financial support, the notice must explain the basis on which this is determined, and, if it is proposed to pay financial support, the amount that is proposed. The regulation does not require the full report of the assessment to be provided, but this is likely to be the most effective and open way of fulfilling the requirement to provide a statement as to the person’s needs for adoption support services, as required by ASR 16.3. Where the local authority’s assessment has identified needs for services that it does not propose to provide, it should be clear about the reason for that proposed decision, since the notice of any final decision under ASR 18 on whether to provide services will have to give reasons for the decision. 9.56. The ASR do not specify a period of time to be allowed for representations. For assessments carried out on request, a period of 28 days from the time the proposed decision was sent to the applicants is suggested as good practice. Where assessments are undertaken at the ‘matching’ stage, the local authority’s proposals regarding the provision of adoption support services will be part of the adoption placement report. The timescale will then need to fit the timetable for that