Children’s Act 1989

Childrens Act

Children Act 1989 (c.41)

1989c. 41

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

Part I
Introductory
1	Welfare of the child.
2	Parental responsibility for children.
3	Meaning of “parental responsibility”.
4	Acquisition of parental responsibility by father.
5	Appointment of guardians.
6	Guardians: revocation and disclaimer.
7	Welfare reports.

Part II
Orders With Respect to Children in Family Proceedings
General
8	Residence, contact and other orders with respect to children.
9	Restrictions on making section 8 orders.
10	Power of court to make section 8 orders.
11	General principles and supplementary provisions.
12	Residence orders and parental responsibility.
13	Change of child’s name or removal from jurisdiction.
14	Enforcement of residence orders.

Financial relief
15	Orders for financial relief with respect to children.

Family assistance orders
16	Family assistance orders.

Part III
Local Authority Support for Children and Families
Provision of services for children and their families
17	Provision of services for children in need, their families and others.
18	Day care for pre-school and other children.
19	Review of provision for day care, child minding etc.

Provision of accommodation for children
20	Provision of accommodation for children: general.
21	Provision of accommodation for children in police protection or detention or on remand, etc.

Duties of local authorities in relation to children looked after by them
22	General duty of local authority in relation to children looked after by them.
23	Provision of accommodation and maintenance by local authority for children whom they are looking after.

Advice and assistance for certain children
24	Advice and assistance for certain children.

Secure accommodation
25	Use of accommodation for restricting liberty.

Supplemental
26	Review of cases and inquiries into representations.
27	Co-operation between authorities.
28	Consultation with local education authorities.
29	Recoupment of cost of providing services etc.
30	Miscellaneous.

Part IV
Care and Supervision
General
31	Care and supervision orders.
32	Period within which application for order under this Part must be disposed of.

Care orders
33	Effect of care order.
34	Parental contact etc. with children in care.

Supervision orders
35	Supervision orders.
36	Education supervision orders.

Powers of court
37	Powers of court in certain family proceedings.
38	Interim orders.
39	Discharge and variation etc. of care orders and supervision orders.
40	Orders pending appeals in cases about care or supervision orders.

Guardians ad litem
41	Representation of child and of his interests in certain proceedings.
42	Right of guardian ad litem to have access to local authority records.

Part V
Protection of Children
43	Child assessment orders.
44	Orders for emergency protection of children.
45	Duration of emergency protection orders and other supplemental provisions.
46	Removal and accommodation of children by police in cases of emergency.
47	Local authority’s duty to investigate.
48	Powers to assist in discovery of children who may be in need of emergency protection.
49	Abduction of children in care etc.
50	Recovery of abducted children etc.
51	Refuges for children at risk.
52	Rules and regulations.

Part VI
Community Homes
53	Provision of community homes by local authorities.
54	Directions that premises be no longer used for community home.
55	Determination of disputes relating to controlled and assisted community homes.
56	Discontinuance by voluntary organisation of controlled or assisted community home.
57	Closure by local authority of controlled or assisted community home.
58	Financial provisions applicable on cessation of controlled or assisted community home or disposal etc. of premises.

Part VII
Voluntary Homes and Voluntary Organisations
59	Provision of accommodation by voluntary organisations.
60	Registration and regulation of voluntary homes.
61	Duties of voluntary organisations.
62	Duties of local authorities.

Part VIII
Registered Children’s Homes
63	Children not to be cared for and accommodated in unregistered children’s homes.
64	Welfare of children in children’s homes.
65	Persons disqualified from carrying on, or being employed in, children’s homes.

Part IX
Private Arrangements for Fostering Children
66	Privately fostered children.
67	Welfare of privately fostered children.
68	Persons disqualified from being private foster parents.
69	Power to prohibit private fostering.
70	Offences.

Part X
Child Minding and Day Care for Young Children
71.	Registration.
72	Requirements to be complied with by child minders.
73	Requirements to be complied with by persons providing day care for young children.
74	Cancellation of registration.
75	Protection of children in an emergency.
76	Inspection.
77	Appeals.
78	Offences.
79	Application of this Part to Scotland.

Part XI
Secretary of State’s Supervisory Functions and Responsibilities
80	Inspection of children’s homes etc. by persons authorised by Secretary of State.
81	Inquiries.
82	Financial support by Secretary of State.
83	Research and returns of information.
84	Local authority failure to comply with statutory duty: default power of Secretary of State.

Part XII
Miscellaneous and General
Notification of children accommodated in certain establishments
85	Children accommodated by health authorities and local education authorities.
86	Children accommodated in residential care, nursing or mental nursing homes.
87	Welfare of children accommodated in independent schools.

Adoption
88	Amendments of adoption legislation.

Paternity tests
89	Tests to establish paternity.

Criminal care and supervision orders
90	Care and supervision orders in criminal proceedings.

Effect and duration of orders etc.
91	Effect and duration of orders etc.

Jurisdiction and procedure etc.
92	Jurisdiction of courts.
93	Rules of court.
94	Appeals.
95	Attendance of child at hearing under Part IV or V.
96	Evidence given by, or with respect to, children.
97	Privacy for children involved in certain proceedings.
98	Self-incrimination.
99	Legal aid.
100	Restrictions on use of wardship jurisdiction.
101	Effect of orders as between England and Wales and Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.

Search warrants
102	Power of constable to assist in exercise of certain powers to search for children or inspect premises.

General
103	Offences by bodies corporate.
104	Regulations and orders.
105	Interpretation.
106	Financial provisions.
107	Application to Channel Islands.
108	Short title, commencement, extent, etc.