Children and Social Work Act – 2017

• 
• Author:UK Government
• Published:2017
• Country:

Children and Social Work Act 2017

2017 CHAPTER 16

An Act to make provision about looked after children; to make other provision in relation to the welfare of children; and to make provision about the regulation of social workers.
[27th April 2017]

1. Corporate parenting principles

1. A local authority in England must, in carrying out functions in relation to the children and young people mentioned in subsection (2), have regard to the need—
   (a)to act in the best interests, and promote the physical and mental health and well-being, of those children and young people;
   (b)to encourage those children and young people to express their views, wishes and feelings;
   (c)to take into account the views, wishes and feelings of those children and young people;
   (d)to help those children and young people gain access to, and make the best use of, services provided by the local authority and its relevant partners;
   (e)to promote high aspirations, and seek to secure the best outcomes, for those children and young people;
   (f)for those children and young people to be safe, and for stability in their home lives, relationships and education or work;
   (g)to prepare those children and young people for adulthood and independent living.
2. The children and young people mentioned in this subsection are—
   (a)children who are looked after by a local authority, within the meaning given by section 22(1) of the Children Act 1989;
   (b)relevant children within the meaning given by section 23A(2) of that Act;
   (c)persons aged under 25 who are former relevant children within the meaning given by section 23C(1) of that Act.

2. Local offer for care leavers

1. A local authority in England must publish information about—
   (a)services which the local authority offers for care leavers as a result of its functions under the Children Act 1989;
   (b)other services which the local authority offers that may assist care leavers in, or in preparing for, adulthood and independent living.
2. For the purposes of subsection (1), services which may assist care leavers in, or in preparing for, adulthood and independent living include services relating to—
   (a)health and well-being;
   (b)relationships;
   (c)education and training;
   (d)employment;
   (e)accommodation;
   (f)participation in society.
3. Where it considers appropriate, a local authority in England must publish information about services for care leavers offered by others which the local authority has power to offer as a result of its functions under the Children Act 1989.
4. Information required to be published by a local authority under this section is to be known as its “local offer for care leavers”.
5. A local authority must update its local offer for care leavers from time to time, as appropriate.
6. Before publishing its local offer for care leavers (or any updated version) a local authority must consult relevant persons about which of the services offered by the local authority may assist care leavers in, or in preparing for, adulthood and independent living.
7. In this section—
   “care leavers” means—
   (a)eligible children within the meaning given by paragraph 19B of Schedule 2 to the Children Act 1989;
   (b)relevant children within the meaning given by section 23A(2) of that Act;
   (c)persons aged under 25 who are former relevant children within the meaning given by section 23C(1) of that Act;
   (d)persons qualifying for advice and assistance within the meaning given by section 24 of that Act;
   “local authority in England” means—
   (a)a county council in England;
   (b)a district council;
   (c)a London borough council;
   (d)the Common Council of the City of London (in their capacity as a local authority);
   (e)the Council of the Isles of Scilly;
   (f)a combined authority established under section 103 of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009;
   “relevant persons”, in relation to a local authority, means such care leavers and other persons as appear to the local authority to be representative of care leavers in its area.

Read the full legislation via the link on the right-hand side of the page.

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