Children Act 1989

Part IE+WProvision of Services for Families

Identification of children in need and provision of informationE+W

1(1)Every local authority shall take reasonable steps to identify the extent to which there are children in need within their area.E+W

(2)Every local authority shall—

(a)publish information—

(i)about services provided by them under sections 17, 18, [F120 [F2and 23D]] ; and

(ii)where they consider it appropriate, about the provision by others (including, in particular, voluntary organisations) of services which the authority have power to provide under those sections; and

(b)take such steps as are reasonably practicable to ensure that those who might benefit from the services receive the information relevant to them.

[F3Children’s services plansE+W

1AE+WF4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ]

Maintenance of a register of disabled childrenE+W

2(1)Every local authority shall open and maintain a register of disabled children within their area.E+W

(2)The register may be kept by means of a computer.

Assessment of children’s needsE+W

3E+WWhere it appears to a local authority that a child within their area is in need, the authority may assess his needs for the purposes of this Act at the same time as any assessment of his needs is made under—

(a)the M1Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970;

(b)[F5Part IV of the Education Act 1996];

[F6(ba)Part 3 of the Children and Families Act 2014;]

(c)the M2Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986; or

(d)any other enactment.

Prevention of neglect and abuseE+W

4(1)Every local authority shall take reasonable steps, through the provision of services under Part III of this Act, to prevent children within their area suffering ill-treatment or neglect.E+W

(2)Where a local authority believe that a child who is at any time within their area—

(a)is likely to suffer harm; but

(b)lives or proposes to live in the area of another local authority [F7or in the area of a local authority in Wales]

they shall inform that other local authority [F8or the local authority in Wales, as the case may be].

(3)When informing that other local authority [F9or the local authority in Wales] they shall specify—

(a)the harm that they believe he is likely to suffer; and

(b)(if they can) where the child lives or proposes to live.

Provision of accommodation in order to protect childE+W

5(1)Where—E+W

(a)it appears to a local authority that a child who is living on particular premises is suffering, or is likely to suffer, ill treatment at the hands of another person who is living on those premises; and

(b)that other person proposes to move from the premises,

the authority may assist that other person to obtain alternative accommodation.

(2)Assistance given under this paragraph may be in cash.

(3)Subsections (7) to (9) of section 17 shall apply in relation to assistance given under this paragraph as they apply in relation to assistance given under that section.

Provision for disabled childrenE+W

6[F10(1)]Every local authority shall provide services designed—E+W

(a)to minimise the effect on disabled children within their area of their disabilities; F11...

(b)to give such children the opportunity to lead lives which are as normal as possible [F12; and

(c)to assist individuals who provide care for such children to continue to do so, or to do so more effectively, by giving them breaks from caring.]

[F13(2)The duty imposed by sub-paragraph (1)(c) shall be performed in accordance with regulations made by the [F14Secretary of State].]

Provision to reduce need for care proceedings etc.E+W

7E+WEvery local authority shall take reasonable steps designed—

(a)to reduce the need to bring—

(i)proceedings for care or supervision orders with respect to children within their area;

(ii)criminal proceedings against such children;

(iii)any family or other proceedings with respect to such children which might lead to them being placed in the authority’s care; or

(iv)proceedings under the inherent jurisdiction of the High Court with respect to children;

(b)to encourage children within their area not to commit criminal offences; and

(c)to avoid the need for children within their area to be placed in secure accommodation [F15within the meaning given in section 25 and in section 119 of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014].

Provision for children living with their familiesE+W

8E+WEvery local authority shall make such provision as they consider appropriate for the following services to be available with respect to children in need within their area while they are living with their families—

(a)advice, guidance and counselling;

(b)occupational, social, cultural or recreational activities;

(c)home help (which may include laundry facilities);

(d)facilities for, or assistance with, travelling to and from home for the purpose of taking advantage of any other service provided under this Act or of any similar service;

(e)assistance to enable the child concerned and his family to have a holiday.

[F16Provision for accommodated childrenE+W

8A(1)Every local authority shall make provision for such services as they consider appropriate to be available with respect to accommodated children.E+W

(2)“Accommodated children” are those children in respect of whose accommodation the local authority have been notified under section 85 or 86 [F17or under section 120 of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 (assessment of children accommodated by health authorities and education authorities)].

(3)The services shall be provided with a view to promoting contact between each accommodated child and that child's family.

(4)The services may, in particular, include—

(a)advice, guidance and counselling;

(b)services necessary to enable the child to visit, or to be visited by, members of the family;

(c)assistance to enable the child and members of the family to have a holiday together.

(5)Nothing in this paragraph affects the duty imposed by paragraph 10.]

Family centresE+W

9(1)Every local authority shall provide such family centres as they consider appropriate in relation to children within their area.E+W

(2)“Family centre” means a centre at which any of the persons mentioned in sub-paragraph (3) may—

(a)attend for occupational, social, cultural or recreational activities;

(b)attend for advice, guidance or counselling; or

(c)be provided with accommodation while he is receiving advice, guidance or counselling.

(3)The persons are—

(a)a child;

(b)his parents;

(c)any person who is not a parent of his but who has parental responsibility for him;

(d)any other person who is looking after him.

Maintenance of the family homeE+W

10E+WEvery local authority shall take such steps as are reasonably practicable, where any child within their area who is in need and whom they are not looking after is living apart from his family—

(a)to enable him to live with his family; or

(b)to promote contact between him and his family,

if, in their opinion, it is necessary to do so in order to safeguard or promote his welfare.

Duty to consider racial groups to which children in need belongE+W

11E+WEvery local authority shall, in making any arrangements—

(a)for the provision of day care within their area; or

(b)designed to encourage persons to act as local authority foster parents,

have regard to the different racial groups to which children within their area who are in need belong.