EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Order)
This Order appoints 29 April 2019 as the day on which the code of practice on the exercise of social services functions in relation to local authority adoption services comes into force (“the code of practice”).
The code of practice was issued by the Welsh Ministers under section 145(1) of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 (“the 2014 Act”) on 15 April 2019 and sets out how local authority adoption service providers and managers may comply with the Local Authority Adoption Services (Wales) Regulations 2019 (“the 2019 Regulations”) (S.I. 2019/291 (W. 69)). The 2019 Regulations impose requirements on local authority adoption service providers and managers in the exercise of their functions in relation to adoption.
Section 145(3) of the 2014 Act requires local authorities, when exercising social services functions, to act in accordance with any relevant requirements contained in a code issued under section 145(1) and to have regard to any relevant guidelines contained in it.