The Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996

[F1 Entitlement: prospective adopters with whom looked after children are placed N.I.

85ZS— (1) Paragraph (3) applies where an authority notifies a person who is an approved foster parent and an approved prospective adopter that a child who is looked after by it is to be, or is expected to be, placed with the person by the authority, in the circumstances mentioned in paragraph (2), under Article 27(2)(a) of the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995.

(2) The circumstances are that—

(a) the authority—

(i) is considering adoption for the child, or

(ii) has decided by virtue of regulation 11 of the Adoption Agencies Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1989 that it is satisfied that adoption is in the best interests of the child, and

(b) such conditions as may be specified in regulations made by the Department are satisfied.

(3) Where this paragraph applies, Articles 85ZJ, 85ZL, 85ZN and 85ZP have effect as if references to adoption, an adoption agency, placement for adoption or placing for adoption were such references as may be specifiedin regulations made by the Department.

(4) Where a child is placed by an authority as referred to in paragraphs (1) and (2), notification of the person by an adoption agency during the placement that the child is to be, or is expected to be, placed with the person for adoption is not to give rise to a right to time off under Article 85ZJ, 85ZL, 85ZN or 85ZP for the person or another person.

(5) In this Article—

“adoption agency” has the same meaning as in Article 85ZJ,

“approved foster parent” means a person approved as a foster parent by the authority under regulation 3 of the Foster Placement (Children) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996,

“approved prospective adopter” means a person considered by the authority by virtue of the Adoption Agencies Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1989 to be a person suitable to adopt a child,

“authority” has the same meaning as in the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 (see Article 2(2) and (3) of the Order),

“child who is looked after by an authority” has the same meaning as in that Order (see Articles 2(7)(b) and 25 of the Order).

(6) The Department may by order amend the definition of, or substitute another definition for the definition of, “approved foster parent” or “approved prospective adopter” for the time being contained in paragraph (5), in consequence of any modification or replacement of the regulations referred to in the definition.]

F1 Arts. 85ZJ-85ZS and cross-headings inserted (5.4.2015) by Work and Families Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 (c. 1), ss. 17(2), 23(1); S.R. 2015/86, art. 4(1)(e)