PART 6LOOKED AFTER AND ACCOMMODATED CHILDREN
Contact and visits
I197Duty of local authority to ensure visits to, and contact with, looked after children and other children
1
This section applies to—
a
a child looked after by a local authority;
b
a child who was looked after by a local authority but who has ceased to be looked after by the authority as a result of circumstances specified in regulations;
c
a child who falls within a category specified in regulations.
2
Regulations specifying a category for the purpose of subsection (1)(c) must also specify the local authority which must discharge the duties imposed by or under this section in relation to a child who falls within the specified category.
3
The local authority must—
a
ensure that a child to whom this section applies is visited by a representative of the authority (“a representative”);
b
arrange for appropriate advice and other support to be available to a child to whom this section applies.
4
The duties imposed by subsection (3)—
a
are to be discharged in accordance with any regulations made for the purposes of this section;
b
are subject to any requirement imposed by or under an enactment applicable to the place in which the child to whom this section applies is accommodated.
5
Regulations under this section may, for the purposes of subsection (4)(a), make provision about—
a
the frequency of visits;
b
circumstances in which a child to whom this section applies must be visited by a representative;
c
the functions of a representative.
6
In choosing a representative, a local authority must satisfy itself that the person chosen has the necessary skills and experience to perform the functions of a representative.