Expiry of temporary approval
27.—(1) Subject to paragraph (4), the responsible authority may extend the temporary approval of a connected person if—
(a)it is likely to expire before the full assessment process is completed, or
(b)the connected person, having undergone the full assessment process, is not approved and seeks a review of the decision in accordance with regulations made under section 87 of the 2014 Act(1) or under paragraph 12F(1)(b) of Schedule 2 to the 1989 Act.
(2) In a case falling within paragraph (1)(a), the responsible authority may extend the period of temporary approval once for a further period of up to 8 weeks.
(3) In a case falling within paragraph (1)(b), the responsible authority may extend the period of temporary approval until the outcome of the review is known.
(4) Before deciding whether to extend the temporary approval in the circumstances set out in paragraph (1), the responsible authority must first—
(a)consider whether placement with the connected person is still the most appropriate placement available,
(b)seek the views of the fostering panel established by the fostering service provider in accordance with the Fostering Regulations or in accordance with the Fostering Services (England) Regulations 2011, and
(c)inform the IRO.
(5) A decision to extend temporary approval must be made by the nominated officer.
(6) If the period of temporary approval and of any extension to that period expires and the connected person has not been approved as a local authority foster parent in accordance with the Fostering Regulations or the Fostering Services (England) Regulations 2011, the responsible authority must terminate the placement after first making other arrangements for C’s accommodation.
Section 92 (regulations about the placing of children with local authority foster parents and prospective adopters) and section 93 (regulations providing for the approval of local authority foster parents) of the 2014 Act provide examples of the way in which the power to make regulations under section 87 of that Act may be exercised by the Welsh Ministers.