o another agency. 3.19. Where an agency accepts a registration of interest it must set up a case record in respect of the prospective adopter. The registration of interest form should be part of this record. AAR 23 sets out what should be included in this record. Chapter 6 of this guidance deals with the confidentiality and preservation of this and other adoption case records. Stage One – The Pre-Assessment Process [AAR 21 – 27] 3.20. Stage One begins when the agency notifies the prospective adopter that they accept their registration of interest in adoption and should normally take no more than two months to complete. It is during this stage that the prospective adopter will be exploring the extent of their interest in and capacity for adoption, prior to a 64 firmer decision on whether to proceed to Stage Two. For this reason, Stage One will focus on initial training and preparation, and on ascertaining, through prescribed checks and references, whether the prospective adopter is not suitable to adopt a child and should not proceed further. The expectation is that the prospective adopter will be closely involved in the Stage One process and agencies are expected to take fully into account the prospective adopter’s wishes on how they wish to proceed through Stage One. All prescribed checks and references must be carried out during Stage One in parallel with initial training and preparation. 3.21. The agency should explain the Stage One process in detail and what will be required of the prospective adopter. Agencies are expected to support the prospective adopter and are required to draw up a Prospective Adopter Stage One Plan in consultation with the prospective adopter which will set out the responsibilities and expectations of both the prospective adopter and the agen