Section 10: Co-operation to improve well-being, Children Act 2004

Each local authority in England must make arrangements to promote co-operation between—

the authority;

each of the authority's relevant partners; and

such other persons or bodies as the authority consider appropriate, being persons or bodies of any nature who exercise functions or are engaged in activities in relation to children in the authority's area.

The arrangements are to be made with a view to improving the well-being of children in the authority's area so far as relating to—

physical and mental health and emotional well-being;

protection from harm and neglect;

education, training and recreation;

the contribution made by them to society;

social and economic well-being.

In making arrangements under this section a local authority in England must have regard to the importance of parents and other persons caring for children in improving the well-being of children.

For the purposes of this section each of the following is a relevant partner of a local authority in England—

where the authority is a county council for an area for which there is also a district council, the district council;

the local policing body and the chief officer of police for a police area any part of which falls within the area of the local authority;

a local probation board for an area any part of which falls within the area of the authority;

the Secretary of State in relation to his functions under sections 2 and 3 of the Offender Management Act 2007, so far as they are exercisable in relation to England;

any provider of probation services that is required by arrangements under section 3(2) of the Offender Management Act 2007 to act as a relevant partner of the authority;

a youth offending team for an area any part of which falls within the area of the authority;

NHS England;

any integrated care board for an area any part of which falls within the area of the authority;

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a person providing services in pursuance of section 68 of the Education and Skills Act 2008 in any part of the area of the authority;

the governing body of a maintained school that is maintained by the authority . . . ;

the proprietor of a school approved by the Secretary of State under section 342 of the Education Act 1996 and situated in the authority's area;

the proprietor of a city technology college, city college for the technology of the arts or Academy situated in the authority's area;

the governing body of an institution within the further education sector the main site of which is situated in the authority's area;

the Secretary of State, in relation to the Secretary of State's functions under section 2 of the Employment and Training Act 1973.

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The relevant partners of a local authority in England must co-operate with the authority in the making of arrangements under this section.

For the purposes of arrangements under this section a relevant person or body may—

provide staff, goods, services, accommodation or other resources to another relevant person or body;

make contributions to a fund out of which relevant payments may be made.

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A local authority in England and each of their relevant partners must in exercising their functions under this section have regard to any guidance given to them for the purpose by the Secretary of State.

Arrangements under this section may include arrangements relating to—

persons aged 18 and 19;

persons over the age of 19 who are receiving services under sections 23C to 24D of the Children Act 1989 (c. 41);

persons over the age of 19 but under the age of 25—

In deciding for the purposes of subsection (4)(fd) whether the main site of an institution within the further education sector is situated within the area of a local authority, the authority and the governing body of the institution must have regard to any guidance given to them by the Secretary of State.

In this section—

" governing body ", in relation to an institution within the further education sector, has the meaning given by section 90 of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992;
" institution within the further education sector " has the meaning given by section 4(3) of the Education Act 1996;
" maintained school " has the meaning given by section 39(1) of the Education Act 2002;
" proprietor ", in relation to a city technology college, city college for the technology of the arts, Academy or other school, means the person or body of persons responsible for its management;
" relevant payment ", in relation to a fund, means a payment in respect of expenditure incurred, by a relevant person or body contributing to the fund, in the exercise of its functions;
" relevant person or body " means—
(a)a local authority in England;
(b)a relevant partner of a local authority in England.

Section 10: Co-operation to improve well-being

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