Children and Young Persons Act 1969

58 Inspection of children's homes etc. by persons authorised by Secretary of State

(1) Subject to subsection (2) of this section, the Secretary of State may cause to be inspected from time to time—

(a) any community home provided by a local authority under section 38 of this Act;

(b) any voluntary home (whether a community home or not);

(c) any other premises at which one or more children in the care of a local authority are being accommodated and maintained;

(d) any other premises at which one or more children are being boarded out by a voluntary organisation; and

(e) any other premises where a foster child within the meaning of Part I of the Children Act 1958 or a child to whom any of the provisions of that Part are extended by section 12 or section 13 of that Act, or a protected child within the meaning of Part IV of the [1958 c. 5 (7 & 8 Eliz. 2.).] Adoption Act 1958 is being accommodated or maintained.

(2) Subsection (1) of this section does not apply to any home or other premises which is, as a whole, subject to inspection by or under the authority of a government department.

(3) An inspection under this section shall be conducted by a person authorised in that behalf by the Secretary of State, but an officer of a local authority shall not be so authorised except with the consent of that authority.

(4) Any person inspecting a home or other premises under this section may inspect the children therein and make such examination into the state and management of the home or other premises and the treatment of children therein as he thinks fit.