tion they contain). For more details, see chapter 6. Notification of the panel’s recommendation 1.48. Prospective adopters, children and birth parents should be told the panel’s recommendation and its reasons immediately after the meeting. However, it must be made clear that the agency’s decision-maker makes the final decision. Agency decision-maker 1.49. The adoption panel makes recommendations to the agency - and not decisions - in respect of the cases referred to it. It is the role of the agency to make a decision and for this purpose it is necessary for the agency to appoint a decision-maker. 1.50. The agency’s decision-maker is a senior person within the adoption agency. VAAs may also appoint a trustee or director. NMS 23.17 sets out the qualifications, knowledge and experience decision-maker must have. The person does not have direct management responsibility for the adoption panel but has the authority to make decisions on the agency’s behalf as to whether:  a child should be placed for adoption (AAR 19);  prospective adopters are suitable to adopt a child or continue to be suitable to adopt a child (AAR 30B and 30D);  a child should be placed for adoption with a specific prospective adopter (AAR 33); and  to disclose protected information about adults under section 61 of the Act and regulation 15 of the Disclosure of Adoption Information (Post- Commencement Adoptions) Regulations 2005 (AIR) when determining an application. There may be more than one decision-maker in an agency. The decision-maker may not delegate their authority to another person. 1.51. In Hofstetter v LB Barnet and IRM [2009] EWCA 3282 (Admin) the court set out guidance for the way in which the decision-maker should approach a case. The 26 court said that it would be good discipline and app