The Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995

Provision of accommodation for children

75.—(1) A voluntary organisation which provides accommodation for a child shall do so by—

(a)placing him (subject to paragraph (2)) with—

(i)a family;

(ii)a relative of his; or

(iii)any other suitable person,

on such terms as to payment by the organisation and otherwise as the organisation may determine;

(b)maintaining him in a voluntary home;

(c)maintaining him in a home provided under Part VII;

(d)maintaining him in a registered children’s home;

(e)maintaining him in a home provided by the Secretary of State, a government department or a prescribed public body; or

(f)making such other arrangements (subject to paragraph (3)) as seem appropriate to the organisation.

(2) The Department may make regulations as to the placing of children with foster parents by voluntary organisations and the regulations may, in particular, make provision similar to the provision that may be made under Article 27(2)(a) (placing of children by an authority).

(3) The Department may make regulations as to the arrangements which may be made under paragraph (1)(f) and the regulations may in particular make provision similar to the provision that may be made under Article 27(2)(f) (other arrangements made by an authority).

(4) The Department may make regulations requiring any voluntary organisation which is providing accommodation for a child—

(a)to review his case; and

(b)to consider any representations (including any complaint) made to the organisation by any prescribed person,

in accordance with the provisions of the regulations.

(5) Regulations under paragraph (4) may in particular make provision similar to the provision that may be made under Article 45 (reviews where child looked after by an authority).

(6) Regulations under paragraphs (2) to (4) may provide that any person who, without reasonable excuse, contravenes a regulation shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale.