adopter at Stage Two 70 and, if they did, any case records would have to be transferred to the new agency under AAR 43. 3.48. Stage Two starts when the agency receives notification from the prospective adopters that they wish to proceed with the assessment process. Stage Two should take four months unless there are exceptional circumstances which mean the agency cannot make the decision within that time, or the agency delays making the decision upon the request of the prospective adopter. Reasons for any extensions should be recorded on the case record. 3.49. Stage Two is about intensive training and assessment. Agencies should begin this stage with a meeting or pre-planned phone call between the prospective adopter and the allocated social worker. The social worker should explain how Stage Two will operate and what will be required of the prospective adopter. The social worker should explain the decision-making process and the role of the Adoption Panel and the Independent Review Mechanism. 3.50. Agencies must prepare, in consultation with the prospective adopter, a prospective adopter assessment plan including information about the assessment process, any applicable timescales, agreed training and any other matters that the agency considers relevant (see AAR 29). This should, as far as possible, be agreed with the prospective adopter, and as with the Stage One Plan, may be referred to locally as an ‘agreement’. 3.51. Agencies should provide any necessary intensive training and in parallel, carry out an assessment of the prospective adopter’s suitability to adopt and produce a report of that assessment. In conducting the assessment, the social worker should analyse and consider the information they ascertain about the prospective adopter, including any issues identifie