Local authority duties to children

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Local authority duties towards children looked after by them

A child who is either subject to a care order (including an interim care order), or provided with accommodation by the local authority under section 20 of the Children Act 1989 (ChA 1989), is a ‘looked after’ child. A local authority has two main duties to any child who is looked after:

  1. •

    to safeguard and promote the child’s welfare, and

  2. •

    to make such services available for children as are reasonable in the child’s case

If a child is going to become looked after, whether under a voluntary arrangement or otherwise (or if not practicable, within ten days of becoming looked after), the local authority must prepare a care plan.

A local authority has to provide all children looked after by them with accommodation and maintain them as is necessary, and there is an order of precedence as to where a child should live.

See Practice Note: Local authority duties towards children looked after by them.

Duty to provide advice and assistance for certain children and young persons

Certain children

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