y on the needs of adoptive children and their adoptive families. It must be borne in mind that some of the support that may be needed by adopted adults and birth relatives will fall within the provisions of the access to information and intermediary services set out in chapters 10 and 11 of this guidance. 9.2. The ASR set out detailed provisions for the assessments and decisions about provision of adoption support. It should be noted that it is permissible under ASR 21 to vary or truncate these procedures in cases of urgent need. What are adoption support services? 9.3. Under section 2(6) of the Act, adoption support services are defined as counselling, advice and information, and the services prescribed by ASR 3.1a-f. It is not necessary for all adoption support services to be extended to each category of person who might seek such services, (see ASR 4). In particular, ASR 3.2 excludes from the list of services prescribed in ASR 3.1, services in the case of ‘partner’ adoptions, ie where the child adopted or to be adopted is the birth child of the partner of the adoptive parent. This means that there is no obligation on the local authority to provide services other than counselling, advice and information in such cases. It does not of course mean that children in such families may not be ‘children in need’ and entitled to services under the Children Act 1989 (the 1989 Act). 9.4. ASR 3.3 provides that services provided under ASR 3.1.b-f above may include the local authority giving a person assistance in cash, for example, giving an adoptive parent cash to pay a babysitter so they can have a break for an evening. When cash is provided in this way it should not be means tested as it is being provided as part of a service rather than as financial support. 9.5. ASR 3.4 requi