Duties of local authorities

3Local authorities to ensure well-being of, and to visit, foster children

(1)

Subject to subsection (3) below, it shall be the duty of every local authority to satisfy themselves as to the well-being of foster children within their area and, for that purpose, to secure—

(a)

that the children are visited by officers of the authority in accordance with regulations made under subsection (2) below; and

(b)

that such advice is given as to the care and maintenance of the children as appears to be needed.

(2)

The Secretary of State may make regulations requiring roster children in a local authority's area to be visited by an officer of the local authority on specified occasions or within specified periods of time.

(3)

Until such time as the Secretary of State may by order made by statutory instrument appoint, subsection (1) above shall have effect with the substitution for paragraph (a) of the following paragraph—

“(a)

that, so far as appears to the authority to be appropriate, the children are visited from time to time by officers of the authority ; and”.