The Guardians Ad Litem and Reporting Officers (Panels) Regulations 1991

Appointments to panels

4.—(1) The local authority in respect of whose area the panel is established shall appoint persons to be members of the panel.

(2) The local authority shall decide whether the qualifications and experience of any person who they propose to appoint to the panel are suitable for the purposes of that person’s appointment as a guardian ad litem or a reporting officer who they propose to appoint to the panel.

(3) The local authority shall in respect of any person whom they propose to appoint to the panel—

(a)interview each such person,

(b)consult the panel committee, and

(c)obtain the names of at least two persons who can provide a reference in writing for the persons whom they propose to appoint and take up those references.

(4) The local authority shall notify in writing any person who is appointed to a panel of the appointment which shall, subject to regulation 5 of these Regulations, be for such period not exceeding three years at any one time as the local authority shall specify on making the appointment.

(5) Each local authority shall maintain a record of those persons whom they have appointed to be members of the panel established in respect of their area.

(6) Every local authority shall have regard to the number of children in their area who may become the subject of specified proceedings and the different racial groups to which they belong, in making appointments under this regulation.