Section 20: Joint area reviews, Children Act 2004

Any two or more of the persons and bodies to which this section applies must, at the request of the Secretary of State—

conduct, in accordance with a timetable drawn up by them and approved by the Secretary of State, a review of children's services provided in—

the area of every local authority in England;

the areas of such local authorities in England as may be specified in the request;

conduct a review of such children's services provided in the area of such local authority in England as may be specified in the request.

Any two or more of the persons and bodies to which this section applies may conduct a review of any children's services provided in the area of a particular local authority in England.

The purpose of a review under this section is to evaluate the extent to which, taken together, the children's services being reviewed improve the well-being of children and relevant young persons (and in particular to evaluate how those services work together to improve their well-being).

The persons and bodies to which this section applies are—

the Chief Inspector of Schools;

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

the Care Quality Commission;

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

the chief inspector of constabulary;

Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Probation for England and Wales

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

the Chief Inspector of Prisons.

Reviews under this section are to be conducted in accordance with arrangements made by the Chief Inspector of Schools.

Before making arrangements for the purposes of reviews under this section the Chief Inspector of Schools must consult such of the other persons and bodies to which this section applies as he considers appropriate.

The annual report of the Chief Inspector of Schools required by subsection (1) of section 121 of the Education and Inspections Act 2006 to be made to the Secretary of State must include an account of reviews under this section; and the power conferred by subsection (3) of that section to make other reports to the Secretary of State includes a power to make reports about such reviews.

The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision for the purposes of reviews under this section and in particular provision—

requiring or facilitating the sharing or production of information for the purposes of a review under this section (including provision for the creation of criminal offences);

authorising any person or body conducting a review under this section to enter any premises for the purposes of the review (including provision for the creation of criminal offences);

imposing requirements as to the making of a report on each review under this section;

for the making by such persons as may be specified in or under the regulations of written statements of proposed action in the light of the report and the period within which any such action must or may be taken;

for the provision to members of the public of copies of reports and statements made under paragraphs (c) and (d), and for charging in respect of any such provision;

for the disapplication, in consequence of a requirement under this section, of any requirement under any other enactment to conduct an assessment or to do anything in connection with an assessment.

Regulations under subsection (8) may in particular make provision by applying enactments falling within subsection (10), with or without modification, for the purposes of reviews under this section.

The enactments falling within this subsection are enactments relating to the powers of persons and bodies to which this section applies for the purposes of assessments other than reviews under this section.

Regulations under subsection (8) may make provision authorising or requiring the doing of anything by reference to the determination of a person of a description specified in the regulations.

Section 20: Joint area reviews

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