ion of the child’s welfare may need to include evidence of how they are thriving (or otherwise) in the care of the prospective adopter. 8.36. If leave is given to oppose the application, then it will be necessary for the court to address the issue of parental consent. A statement of facts will be needed, setting out the facts on which the prospective adopter relies to establish the grounds for dispensing with consent. The child will (if not already) be made a party to the application and a children’s guardian appointed, and, if they are not already legally represented, the prospective adopter is likely to need legal representation. If there is any question of the agency ceasing to support the adopter’s application, this will need to be discussed and decided with the agency’s decision-maker. Contact applications Applications under section 26 of the Act 8.37. Once a child is authorised to be placed for adoption (also in cases where a child under six weeks old has been placed for adoption) the provisions in the 1989 Act regarding contact cease to apply and any order for contact made under that Act will cease to have effect. As explained in chapter 7, contact is dealt with under sections 26 and 27 of the Act, and a local authority no longer has an obligation to promote contact between the child and birth family members. The court may however make an order for contact under section 26 of the Act, and may revoke or vary a section 26 order under section 27 of the Act. At the time of making a placement order, the court is required by section 27(4) to consider the arrangements made or proposed by the agency for contact and invite the views of the parties. The court may also make an order under section 26 on its own initiative, i.e. even if no application has been made. 8.38. If 