22(1) of the Act); or  if there are care proceedings in train (whether or not the parents are prepared to consent to placement for adoption); or  if a care order is in existence but the parents will not consent to the child being placed for adoption (section 22(2) of the Act). The local authority may apply for a placement order if there is a care order and parental consent has been given under section 19 of the Act but the local authority believe that parental consent may be withdrawn, see section 22(3) of the Act. 8.4. If a child has been placed for adoption by consent given under section 19 of the Act, but the parent subsequently withdraws the consent, the agency must immediately to review their decision to place the child for adoption (see AAR 38 and chapter 5). If they consider that the child should still be placed for adoption, and that there are grounds for a placement order, the application should be made immediately. If a parent is seeking the return of the child, the prospective adopter and the agency will need to comply with the request within 14 days, unless the placement order application has been issued before then. Where a child has been placed by a voluntary adoption agency (VAA), that agency will not be able to apply for a placement order, and any steps to secure the child’s position will need to be taken by the local authority if it agrees that the child is at risk of harm if returned to the parent. Timing of application 8.5. Where it is decided that a child should be placed for adoption during the course of care proceedings, the local authority must apply for a placement order. It is essential that the application be issued without delay. The local authority’s legal advisers should be kept fully up to date with developments so that the application ca