PART IINTRODUCTORY

Citation and commencement

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Representations Procedure(Children) Regulations 1991, and shall come into force on 14th October1991.

Interpretation

2.-(1) In these Regulations, unless the context otherwise requires-

"the Act" means the Children Act 1989;

"complainant" means a person qualifying for advice and assistance about thedischarge of their functions by a local authority under Part III of theAct in relation to him, or a person specified in section 26(3)(a) to (e)of the Act making any representations;

"independent person" means in relation to representations made to, or treated as beingmade to, a local authority, a person who is neither a member nor anofficer of that authority;

"panel" means a panel of 3 persons;

"representations" means representations referred to in sections 24(14) or 26(3) ofthe Act.

(2) Any notice required under these Regulations is to be given inwriting and may be sent by post.

(3) In these Regulations unless the context requires otherwise-

(a)any reference to a numbered section is to the section in the Actbearing that number;

(b)any reference to a numbered regulation is to the regulation in theseRegulations bearing that number, and any reference in a regulation to anumbered paragraph is to the paragraph of that regulation bearing thatnumber.

PART IIREPRESENTATIONS AND THEIR CONSIDERATION

Local authority action

3.-(1) The local authority shall appoint one of their officers to assistthe authority in the co-ordination of all aspects of their considerationof the representations.

(2) The local authority shall take all reasonable steps to ensure thateveryone involved in the handling of the representations, includingindependent persons, is familiar with the procedure set out in theseRegulations.

Preliminaries

4.-(1) Where a local authority receive representations from anycomplainant, except from a person to whom section 26(3)(e) may apply,they shall send to the complainant an explanation of the procedure setout in these Regulations, and offer assistance and guidance on the useof the procedure, or give advice on where he may obtain it.

(2) Where oral representations are made, the authority shall forthwithcause them to be recorded in writing, and sent to the complainant, whoshall be given the opportunity to agree that they are accuratelyrecorded in writing.

(3) For all other purposes of these Regulations the written record towhichparagraph (2) refers shall be deemed to be the representations.

(4) Where a local authority receive representations from a person towhom they consider section 26(3)(e) may apply they shall-

(a)forthwith consider whether the person has a sufficient interest inthe child's welfare to warrant his representations being considered bythem;

(b)if they consider that he has a sufficient interest, cause therepresentations to be dealt with in accordance with the provisions ofthese Regulations, and send to the complainant an explanation of theprocedure set out in the Regulations, and offer assistance and guidanceon the use of the procedure, or give advice on where he may obtain it;

(c)if they consider that he has not got a sufficient interest theyshall notify him accordingly in writing, and inform him that no furtheraction will be taken;

(d)if they consider it appropriate to do so having regard to hisunderstanding, they shall notify the child of the result of theirconsideration.

(5) Where paragraph (4)(b) applies, the date at which the authorityconclude that the person has a sufficient interest shall be treated forthe purpose of these Regulations as the date of receipt of therepresentations.

Appointment of independent person

5. Where the local authority receive representations under regulation 4they shall appoint an independent person to take part in theconsideration of them, unless regulation 4(4)(c) applies.

Consideration by local authority with independent person

6.-(1) The local authority shall consider the representations with theindependent person and formulate a response within 28 days of theirreceipt.

(2) The independent person shall take part in any discussions which areheld by the local authority about the action (if any) to be taken inrelation to the child in the light of the consideration of therepresentations.

Withdrawal of representations

7. The representations may be withdrawn at any stage by the personmaking them.

Notification to complainant and reference to panel

8.-(1) The local authority shall give notice within the period specified inregulation 6 to-

(a)the complainant;

(b)if different, the person on whose behalf the representations weremade, unless the local authority consider that he is not of sufficientunderstanding or it would be likely to cause serious harm to his healthor emotional condition;

(c)the independent person;

(d)any other person whom the local authority consider has sufficientinterest in the case

of the proposed result of their consideration of the representations and the complainant's right to have the matter referred to a panel under paragraph (2).

(2) If the complainant informs the authority in writing within 28 days of the date on which notice is given under paragraph (1) that he is dissatisfied with the proposed result and wishes the matter to be referred to a panel for consideration of the representations, a panel shall be appointed by the local authority for that purpose.

(3) The panel shall include at least one independent person.

(4) The panel shall meet within 28 days of the receipt by the localauthority of the complainant's request that the matter be referred to apanel.

(5) At that meeting the panel shall consider-

(a)any oral or written submissions that the complainant or the localauthority wish to make; and

(b)if the independent person appointed under regulation 5 is differentfrom the independent person on the panel, any oral or writtensubmissions which the independent person appointed under regulation 5wishes to make.

(6) If the complainant wishes to attend the meeting of the panel he maybe accompanied throughout the meeting by another person of his choice,and may nominate that other person to speak on his behalf.

Recommendations

9.-(1) When a panel meets under regulation 8, they shall decide on theirrecommendations and record them with their reasons in writing within 24hours of the end of the meeting referred to in regulation 8.

(2) The panel shall give notice of their recommendations to-

(a)the local authority;

(b)the complainant;

(c)the independent person appointed under regulation 5 if differentfrom the independent person on the panel;

(d)any other person whom the local authority considers has sufficientinterest in the case.

(3) The local authority shall, together with the independent personappointed to the panel under regulation 8(3) consider what action if anyshould be taken in relation to the child in the light of therepresentation, and that independent person shall take part in anydecisions about any such action.

PART IIIREVIEW

Monitoring of operation of procedure

10.-(1) Each local authority shall monitor the arrangements that they havemade with a view to ensuring that they comply with the Regulations bykeeping a record of each representation received, the outcome of eachrepresentation, and whether there was compliance with the time limitsspecified in regulations 6(1), 8(4) and 9(1).

(2) For the purposes of such monitoring, each local authority shall, atleast once in every period of twelve months, compile a report on theoperation in that period of the procedure set out in these Regulations.

(3) The first report referred to in paragraph (2) shall be compiledwithin twelve months of the date of coming into force of theseRegulations.

PART IVAPPLICATION OF REGULATIONS TO VOLUNTARYORGANISATIONS ANDREGISTERED CHILDREN'S HOMESAND IN SPECIAL CASES

Application to voluntary organisations and registered children'shomes

11.-(1) The provisions of Parts I to III of these Regulations shall applywhere accommodation is provided for a child by a voluntary organisation,and he is not looked after by a local authority, as if-

(a)for references to"local authority" there were substituted references to"voluntary organisation";

(b)for the definition in regulation 2(1) of"complainant" there were substituted-

• ""complainant" means

  (a)

  any child who is being provided with accommodation by a voluntaryorganisation;

  (b)

  any parent of his;

  (c)

  any person who is not a parent of his but who has parentalresponsibility for him;

  (d)

  such other person as the voluntary organisation consider has asufficient interest in the child's welfare to warrant hisrepresentations being considered by them."

(c)for the definition in regulation 2(1) of"independent person" there were substituted-

• ""independent person" means in relation to representations made to, or treated as beingmade to a voluntary organisation, a person who is not an officer of thatvoluntary organisation nor a person engaged in any way in furthering itsobjects, nor the spouse of any such person;" and

(d)for the definition in regulation 2(1) of"representations" there were substituted-

• ""representations" means representations referred to in section 59(4) about thedischarge by the voluntary organisation of any of their functionsrelating to section 61 and any regulations made under it in relation tothe child.";

(e)for the reference in regulation 4(1) and (4) to a person to whomsection 26(3)(e) may apply or to whom the local authority considersection 26(3)(e) may apply there was substituted a reference to a personwho may fall within sub-paragraph (d) in the definition of"complainant" in these Regulations.

(2) The provisions of Parts I to III of these Regulations shall applywhere accommodation is provided for a child in a registered children'shome, but where a child is neither looked after by a local authority noraccommodated on behalf of a voluntary organisation, as if-

(a)for references to"local authority" there were substituted references to"the person carrying on the home";

(b)for the definition in regulation 2(1) of"complainant" there were substituted-

• ""complainant" means

  (i)

  any child who is being provided with accommodation in a registeredchildren's home;

  (ii)

  a parent of his;

  (iii)

  any person who is not a parent of his but who has parentalresponsibility for him;

  (iv)

  such other person as the person carrying on the home considers has asufficient interest in the child's welfare to warrant hisrepresentations being considered by them;"

(c)for the definition in regulation 2(1) of"independent person" there were substituted-

• ""independent person" means in relation to representations made to a person carrying on aregistered children's home, a person who is neither involved in themanagement or operation of that home nor financially interested in itsoperation, nor the spouse of any such person;"

(d)for the definition in regulation 2(1) of"representations" there were substituted-

• ""representations" means any representations (including any complaint) made inrelation to the person carrying on the registered children's home by acomplainant about the discharge of his functions relating to section64.";

(e)for the reference in regulation 4(1) and (4) to a person to whomsection 26(3)(e) may apply or to whom the local authority considersection 26(3)(e) may apply there was substituted a reference to a personwho may fall within sub-paragraph (d) in the definition of"complainant" in these Regulations.

Special cases including application to representations by fosterparents

12.-(1) Where representations would fall to be considered by more than onelocal authority, they shall be considered by the authority which islooking after the child or by the authority within whose area the childis ordinarily resident where no authority has that responsibility.

(2) The provisions of Parts I and III of, and of regulation 12(1) of,these Regulations, shall apply to the consideration by a local authorityof any representations (including any complaint) made to them by anyperson exempted or seeking to be exempted under paragraph 4 of Schedule7 to the Act (foster parents: limits on numbers of foster children)about the discharge of their functions under that paragraph asif-

(a)for the definition in regulation 2(1) of"complainant" there were substituted:"a person exempted or seeking to be exempted under paragraph 4 ofSchedule 7 to the Act making any representations;"

(b)for the definition in regulation 2(1) of"representations" there were substituted:"representations referred to in paragraph 6 of Schedule 7 to the Act.";

(c)in regulation 4(1) the words"except from a person to whom section 26(3)(e) may apply" were omitted;

(d)regulation 4(4) and (5) were omitted.

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations establish a procedure for considering representations (including complaints) made to local authorities about the discharge by the authority of any of their functions-

(a)under Part III of the Act in relation to a child looked after bythem or in need;

(b)where section 24(14) of the Act applies (representations concerningadvice and assistance for certain children aged 18 to 21);

(c)under paragraph 4 of Schedule 7 to the Act (foster parents: limitson number of foster children) in relation to exemption from the usualfostering limit.

The Regulations make provision to include consideration ofrepresentations by an independent person and for reference ofrepresentations to a panel which is to make recommendations to theauthority, organisation or person carrying on the home.

The Regulations also make provision for a record to be kept of allrepresentations received and their outcome to monitor the operation ofthe procedure and for a report on the operation of the procedure to beprepared every twelve months.

The Regulations apply the procedure for considering representations(including complaints) made to voluntary organisations and personscarrying on registered children's homes with modifications.