they are considering withdrawing their consent. They should also emphasise to the parents the importance of their keeping the agency informed about their own whereabouts. This will benefit not only the parent receiving information about their child’s progress, but also the child as it will help avoid possible delays in notifying the parent when the adoption application is made to court. 2.82. Consent is given on one of the forms A100 to A103 under the Family Procedure Rules 2010 and must be witnessed in accordance with those Rules. Where the parent or guardian who is willing to consent is resident in England or Wales, the provisions of AAR 20 apply, and a CAFCASS officer (if the child lives in England) or Welsh family proceedings officer appointed by the National Assembly for Wales (if the child lives in Wales) will witness consent. 2.83. AAR 20 requires the agency to request that CAFCASS appoint an officer, or to request that the National Assembly for Wales appoint a Welsh family proceedings officer, to witness the parent’s or guardian’s consent to placement or to adoption, prior to court proceedings. AAR 20 also stipulates that the agency send with that request the information specified in Schedule 2. The Association of Directors of Children’s Services and CAFCASS have agreed a protocol for dealing with consent (Protocol for Children relinquished for Adoption: August 2007). 2.84. In making the request for a CAFCASS officer to witness consent, the agency should write to the CAFCASS office that is nearest to the parent’s or guardian's address. 2.85. For consent to be effective, the CAFCASS officer will need to be satisfied 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