rs are entitled on request to an assessment of their support needs, see chapter 9. The local authority will need to indicate whether there has been an assessment and whether adoption support is, or is proposed to be provided, with a summary of the plan and timescales for continuing support. Equally, if no support is to be provided, the reasons for this should be given under paragraph (d). Section E - Recommendations 8.132. As for agency cases, the local authority needs to provide a clear recommendation, with a consideration of the relative merits of other orders. In partner adoption cases it will be particularly relevant to consider whether a joint residence or parental responsibility order would meet the child’s needs, leaving their legal relationship with the other birth parent intact. In applications by relatives, it will be important to consider, with reasons, whether an adoption order would be better for the child than a special guardianship or residence order. If the report does not recommend adoption, alternative proposals should be made. These might include any of the orders mentioned above, with consideration of whether they would provide appropriate security and stability for the child. Any recommendation as to alternatives to adoption will need to take into account the particular circumstances of the case. In an application by local authority foster carers, for example, if the child is subject to a care order and the local authority considers that the child should be moved to a different placement, the local authority’s care plan should be set out. If the child is accommodated under section 20 of the 1989 Act, and the court declines to make any order in the foster carers’ favour, the birth parent will be entitled to request the return of the child to their ca