The Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations

This is statutory guidance from the Department for Education. It is issued as guidance under section 7 of the Local Authority Social Services Act 1970 which requires local authorities in exercising their social services functions, to act under the general guidance of the Secretary of State. This guidance should be complied with by local authorities when exercising these functions, unless local circumstances indicate exceptional reasons that justify a variation.

Volume 2 of the Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations provides guidance, primarily addressed to local authorities and their staff in England, about their functions under Part 3 of the Children Act 1989.

This guidance updates and consolidates The Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations, Volume 2: Care Planning, Placement and Case Review documents published in March 2010. It now includes information contained in the following updates and supplements:

• Delegation of Authority: Amendments to the Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations – July 2013
• Looked-after children: contact with siblings – February 2014
• Looked-after children and youth justice: Application of the Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) Regulations 2010 to looked-after children in contact with youth justice services – April 2014
• Early permanence placements and approval of prospective adopters as foster carers: Statutory guidance for local authorities and adoption agencies – July 2014
• Out of authority placements of looked-after children – July 2014
• Permanence, long-term foster placements and ceasing to look after a child – March 2015.