The Adoption and Children (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020

PART 13 Savings Provisions

Suitability assessments

15.  In a case where, on the 25th September 2020, —

(a) an adoption agency is in the process of assessing the suitability of a prospective adopter in accordance with Part 4 of the Adoption Agencies Regulations 2005, or

(b) a fostering service provider is in the process of assessing the suitability of a person to become a foster parent under regulation 26 of the 2011 Regulations,

that assessment must continue as if the amendments made by these Regulations remain in force.

Private fostering: notifications

16.  Where, during the relevant period, a local authority has received notification under regulation 3, 5 or 6 of the Children (Private Arrangements for Fostering) Regulations 2005 Regulations, the local authority may proceed as if the amendments made by these Regulations remain in force.

Children Act 1989 representations

17.  Where, during the relevant period, representations have been considered in accordance with regulation 17 of the Children Act 1989 (Representations Procedure) Regulations 2006, any further consideration of those representations by a panel may proceed as if the amendments made by these Regulations remain in force.

Placement

18.  Where, during the relevant period, a child has been placed in accordance with regulation 19 of the 2010 Regulations, the responsible authority may proceed as if the amendments made by these Regulations remain in force.

19.  Where, during the relevant period, the responsible authority placed a child under regulation 23 of the 2010 Regulations, the placement has effect as if the amendments made by these Regulations remain in force.

Foster parents: temporary approval

20.  In a case where, during the relevant period, the responsible authority —

(a) started to approve a person as a local authority foster parent, or

(b) approved a person as a local authority foster parent,

in accordance with regulation 24 of the 2010 Regulations, the responsible authority must proceed as if the amendments made by these Regulations remain in force.

Short breaks

21.  In a case where, during the relevant period, a child has been placed in short breaks in accordance with —

(a) regulation 48 of the 2010 Regulations, or

(b) regulation 42 of the 2011 Regulations,

those regulations continue apply to the short breaks as if the amendments made by these Regulations remain in force.

Children’s homes: deprivation of liberty

22.  Where, on the 25th September 2020, a child is being deprived of their liberty in a children’s home in accordance with regulation 20(3) of the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015, that regulation continues to have effect as if the amendment made by these Regulations remains in force.