Section 23C: Continuing functions in respect of former relevant children., Children Act 1989

Each local authority shall have the duties provided for in this section towards—

a person who has been a relevant child for the purposes of section 23A (and would be one if he were under eighteen), and in relation to whom they were the last responsible authority; and

a person who was being looked after by them when he attained the age of eighteen, and immediately before ceasing to be looked after was an eligible child,

and in this section such a person is referred to as a " former relevant child ".

It is the duty of the local authority to take reasonable steps—

to keep in touch with a former relevant child whether he is within their area or not; and

if they lose touch with him, to re-establish contact.

It is the duty of the local authority—

to continue the appointment of a personal adviser for a former relevant child; and

to continue to keep his pathway plan under regular review.

It is the duty of the local authority to give a former relevant child—

assistance of the kind referred to in section 24B(1), to the extent that his welfare requires it;

assistance of the kind referred to in section 24B(2), to the extent that his welfare and his educational or training needs require it;

other assistance, to the extent that his welfare requires it.

The assistance given under subsection (4)(c) may be in kind or, in exceptional circumstances, in cash.

It is the duty of the local authority to pay the relevant amount to a former relevant child who pursues higher education in accordance with a pathway plan prepared for that person.

The Secretary of State may by regulations—

prescribe the relevant amount for the purposes of subsection (5A);

prescribe the meaning of "higher education" for those purposes;

make provision as to the payment of the relevant amount;

make provision as to the circumstances in which the relevant amount (or any part of it) may be recovered by the local authority from a former relevant child to whom a payment has been made.

The duty set out in subsection (5A) is without prejudice to that set out in subsection (4)(b).

Subject to subsection (7), the duties set out in subsections (2), (3) and (4) subsist until the former relevant child reaches the age of twenty-one.

If the former relevant child's pathway plan sets out a programme of education or training which extends beyond his twenty-first birthday—

the duty set out in subsection (4)(b) continues to subsist for so long as the former relevant child continues to pursue that programme; and

the duties set out in subsections (2) and (3) continue to subsist concurrently with that duty.

For the purposes of subsection (7)(a) there shall be disregarded any interruption in a former relevant child's pursuance of a programme of education or training if the local authority are satisfied that he will resume it as soon as is reasonably practicable.

Section 24B(5) applies in relation to a person being given assistance under subsection (4)(b) or who is in receipt of a payment under subsection (5A) as it applies in relation to a person to whom section 24B(3) applies.

Subsections (7) to (9) of section 17 apply in relation to assistance given under this section as they apply in relation to assistance given under that section.

Section 23C: Continuing functions in respect of former relevant children.

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