Are there central government rules and guidance that adoption agencies are required to follow at this time, in terms of adoption processes?
Not at this time.
In England, the Department for Education (who are responsible for policy relating to adoption) are currently being very light touch. Agencies are expected to deal with each child on a case by case basis and are responsible for adapting their own processes.
Some agencies have suspended all adoption processes that haven’t already started. Others are proceeding with the adoption of newborn babies and children where introductions have already been made. Some are proceeding with all adoptions as normal, just moving all processes up until introductions online.
At the moment, the best advice we can give is to ask your own adoption agency what changes they are making, and what the implications are for you specifically.