Section 26: Review of cases and inquiries into representations., Children Act 1989

The Secretary of State may make regulations requiring the case of each child who is being looked after by a local authority to be reviewed in accordance with the provisions of the regulations.

The regulations may, in particular, make provision—

as to the manner in which each case is to be reviewed;

as to the considerations to which the local authority are to have regard in reviewing each case;

as to the time when each case is first to be reviewed and the frequency of subsequent reviews;

requiring the authority, before conducting any review, to seek the views of—

the child;

his parents;

any person who is not a parent of his but who has parental responsibility for him; and

any other person whose views the authority consider to be relevant,

including, in particular, the views of those persons in relation to any particular matter which is to be considered in the course of the review;

requiring the authority . . . , in the case of a child who is in their care

to keep the section 31A plan for the child under review and, if they are of the opinion that some change is required, to revise the plan, or make a new plan, accordingly,

to consider, whether an application should be made to discharge the care order;

requiring the authority . . . , in the case of a child in accommodation provided by the authority

if there is no plan for the future care of the child, to prepare one,

if there is such a plan for the child, to keep it under review and, if they are of the opinion that some change is required, to revise the plan or make a new plan, accordingly,

to consider, whether the accommodation accords with the requirements of this Part;

requiring the authority to inform the child, so far as is reasonably practicable, of any steps he may take under this Act;

requiring the authority to make arrangements, including arrangements with such other bodies providing services as it considers appropriate, to implement any decision which they propose to make in the course, or as a result, of the review;

requiring the authority to notify details of the result of the review and of any decision taken by them in consequence of the review to—

the child;

his parents;

any person who is not a parent of his but who has parental responsibility for him; and

any other person whom they consider ought to be notified;

requiring the authority to monitor the arrangements which they have made with a view to ensuring that they comply with the regulations.

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Every local authority shall establish a procedure for considering any representations (including any complaint) made to them by—

any child who is being looked after by them or who is not being looked after by them but is in need;

a parent of his;

any person who is not a parent of his but who has parental responsibility for him;

any local authority foster parent;

such other person as the authority consider has a sufficient interest in the child's welfare to warrant his representations being considered by them,

about the discharge by the authority of any of their qualifying functions in relation to the child.

The following are qualifying functions for the purposes of subsection (3)—

functions under this Part,

such functions under Part 4 or 5 as are specified by the Secretary of State in regulations.

The duty under subsection (3) extends to representations (including complaints) made to the authority by—

any person mentioned in section 3(1) of the Adoption and Children Act 2002 (persons for whose needs provision is made by the Adoption Service) and any other person to whom arrangements for the provision of adoption support services (within the meaning of that Act) extend,

such other person as the authority consider has sufficient interest in a child who is or may be adopted to warrant his representations being considered by them,

about the discharge by the authority of such functions under the Adoption and Children Act 2002 as are specified by the Secretary of State in regulations.

The duty under subsection (3) extends to any representations (including complaints) which are made to the authority by—

a child with respect to whom a special guardianship order is in force,

a special guardian or a parent of such a child,

any other person the authority consider has a sufficient interest in the welfare of such a child to warrant his representations being considered by them, or

any person who has applied for an assessment under section 14F(3) or (4),

about the discharge by the authority of such functions under section 14F as may be specified by the Secretary of State in regulations.

Regulations may be made by the Secretary of State imposing time limits on the making of representations under this section.

In carrying out any consideration of representations under this section a local authority shall comply with any regulations made by the Secretary of State for the purpose of regulating the procedure to be followed.

Regulations under subsection (5) may provide that subsection (4) does not apply in relation to any consideration or discussion which takes place as part of a procedure for which provision is made by the regulations for the purpose of resolving informally the matters raised in the representations.

The Secretary of State may make regulations requiring local authorities to monitor the arrangements that they have made with a view to ensuring that they comply with any regulations made for the purposes of subsection (5).

Where any representation has been considered under the procedure established by a local authority under this section, the authority shall—

have due regard to the findings of those considering the representation; and

take such steps as are reasonably practicable to notify (in writing)—

the person making the representation;

the child (if the authority consider that he has sufficient understanding); and

such other persons (if any) as appear to the authority to be likely to be affected,

of the authority's decision in the matter and their reasons for taking that decision and of any action which they have taken, or propose to take.

Every local authority shall give such publicity to their procedure for considering representations under this section as they consider appropriate.

Section 26: Review of cases and inquiries into representations.

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