Children (Scotland) Act 1995

23 Children affected by disability. S

(1) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1) of section 22 of this Act, services provided by a local authority under that subsection shall be designed—

(a) to minimise the effect on any—

(i) disabled child who is within the authority’s area, of his disability; and

(ii) child who is within that area and is affected adversely by the disability of any other person in his family, of that other person’s disability; and

(b) to give those children the opportunity to lead lives which are as normal as possible.

(2) For the purposes of this Chapter of this Part a person is disabled if he is chronically sick or disabled or [F1 has a mental disorder (as defined in section 328(1) of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 (asp 13))].

(3) Where requested to do so by [F2 —

(a)] a child’s parent or guardian [F3 ; or

(b) a mental health officer (as defined in section 329 of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 (asp 13)) who—

(i) has responsibility under that Act or the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 (c. 46) for a child’s case; and

(ii) makes the request for the purposes of either of those Acts,]

a local authority shall, for the purpose of facilitating the discharge of such duties as the authority may have under section 22(1) of this Act (whether or not by virtue of subsection (1) above) as respects the child, carry out an assessment of the child, or of any other person in the child’s family, to determine the needs of the child in so far as attributable to his disability or to that of the other person.

[F4 (4) In determining the needs of a child under subsection (3) above, the local authority shall take account—

(a) where it appears to them that a person (“the carer”) provides a substantial amount of care on a regular basis for the child, or for another person in the child’s family who is being assessed under that subsection, of such care as is being so provided; and

(b) in so far as it is reasonable and practicable to do so, of—

(i) the views of the parent or guardian of the child, and the child; and

(ii) the views of the carer,

provided that the parent, guardian, child or carer in question has a wish, or as the case may be, a capacity, to express a view.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 23(2) substituted (5.10.2005) by Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 (asp 13), ss. 331(1), 333(3), Sch. 4 para. 7; S.S.I. 2005/161, art. 3 (as amended by S.S.I. 2005/375, art. 2)

F2 Word in s. 23(3) become s. 23(3)(a) (5.10.2005) by virtue of Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 (asp 13), ss. 227(2)(a), 333(3); S.S.I. 2005/161, art. 3 (as amended by S.S.I. 2005/375, art. 2)

F3 S. 23(3)(b) and preceding word inserted (5.10.2005) by Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 (asp 13), ss. 227(2)(b), 333(3); S.S.I. 2005/161, art. 3 (as amended by S.S.I. 2005/375, art. 2)

F4 S. 23(4) inserted (1.9.2002) by 2002 asp 5, s. 10; S.S.I. 2002/170, art. 2(4)