Children (Scotland) Act 1995

29 After-care.S

(1)A local authority shall, unless they are satisfied that his welfare does not require it, advise, guide and assist any person in their area [F1who is at least sixteen] but not yet nineteen years of age who, [F2either—

(a)was (on his sixteenth birthday or at any subsequent time) but is no longer looked after by a local authority; or

(b)is of such other description of person formerly but no longer looked after by a local authority as the Scottish Ministers may specify by order.]

[F3(1A)An order made under subsection (1)(b) above is subject to the affirmative procedure.]

(2)If a person within the area of a local authority is at least nineteen, but is less than [F4twenty-six], years of age and is otherwise a person such as is described in subsection (1) above, he may by application to the authority request that they provide him with advice, guidance and assistance; F5...

[F6(2A)Subsections (1) and (2) above do not apply to a person during any period when the person is being provided with continuing care under section 26A of this Act.]

(3)[F7Subject to section 73(2) of the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001 (asp 8),] assistance given under subsection (1) [F8above or (5A) or (5B) below] may include assistance in kind or in cash.

(4)Where a person—

(a)[F9who is at least sixteen years of] age ceases to be looked after by a local authority; or

(b)described in subsection (1) above is being provided with advice, guidance or assistance by a local authority,

they shall, if he proposes to reside in the area of another local authority, inform that other local authority accordingly provided that he consents to their doing so.

[F10(5)It is the duty of each local authority, in relation to any person to whom they have a duty under subsection (1) above or who makes an application under subsection (2) above, to carry out an assessment of the person’s needs.

[F11(5A)After carrying out an assessment under subsection (5) above in pursuance of an application made by a person under subsection (2) above, the local authority—

(a)must, if satisfied that the person has any eligible needs which cannot be met other than by taking action under this subsection, provide the person with such advice, guidance and assistance as it considers necessary for the purposes of meeting those needs; and

(b)may otherwise provide such advice, guidance and assistance as it considers appropriate having regard to the person's welfare.

(5B)A local authority may (but is not required to) continue to provide advice, guidance and assistance to a person in pursuance of subsection (5A) after the person reaches the age of twenty-six.]

(6)Each local authority shall establish a procedure for considering representations (including complaints) made to them by any person mentioned in subsection (1) or (2) above about the discharge of their functions under the provisions of subsections (1) to [F12(5B)] above.

(7)In subsection (1) above, the reference to having been “looked after by a local authority” shall be construed as including having been looked after by a local authority in England and Wales; and subsection (4) of section 105 of the Children Act 1989 (c.41) (construction of references to a child looked after by a local authority) shall apply for the purposes of this subsection as it applies for the purposes of that Act (“local authority in England and Wales” being construed in accordance with subsection (1) of that section).]

[F13(8)For the purposes of subsection (5A)(a) above, a person has “eligible needs” if the person needs care, attention or support of such type as the Scottish Ministers may by order specify.

(9)An order made under subsection (8) is subject to the affirmative procedure.

(10)If a local authority becomes aware that a person who is being provided with advice, guidance or assistance by them under this section has died, the local authority must as soon as reasonably practicable notify—

(a)the Scottish Ministers; and

(b)Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland.]

Textual Amendments

F1Words in s. 29(1) substituted (1.8.2014 for specified purposes, 1.4.2015 in so far as not already in force) by Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 (asp 8), ss. 66(2)(a)(i), 102(3); S.S.I. 2014/131, art. 2(2)(3), sch.; S.S.I. 2015/61, art. 2(1)(2), sch.

F2Words in s. 29(1) substituted (1.8.2014 for specified purposes, 1.4.2015 in so far as not already in force) by Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 (asp 8), ss. 66(2)(a)(ii), 102(3); S.S.I. 2014/131, art. 2(2)(3), sch.; S.S.I. 2015/61, art. 2(1)(2), sch.

F3S. 29(1A) inserted (1.8.2014 for specified purposes, 1.4.2015 in so far as not already in force) by Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 (asp 8), ss. 66(2)(b), 102(3); S.S.I. 2014/131, art. 2(2)(3), sch.; S.S.I. 2015/61, art. 2(1)(2), sch.

F4Word in s. 29(2) substituted (1.8.2014 for specified purposes, 1.4.2015 in so far as not already in force) by Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 (asp 8), ss. 66(2)(c)(i), 102(3); S.S.I. 2014/131, art. 2(2)(3), sch.; S.S.I. 2015/61, art. 2(1)(2), sch.

F5Words in s. 29(2) repealed (1.8.2014 for specified purposes, 1.4.2015 in so far as not already in force) by Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 (asp 8), ss. 66(2)(c)(ii), 102(3); S.S.I. 2014/131, art. 2(2)(3), sch.; S.S.I. 2015/61, art. 2(1)(2), sch.

F7Words in s. 29(3) inserted (5.12.2003) by 2001 asp 8, ss. 73(1)(a), 81(2); S.S.I. 2003/596, art. 3(1)

F8Words in s. 29(3) substituted (1.8.2014 for specified purposes, 1.4.2015 in so far as not already in force) by Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 (asp 8), ss. 66(2)(d), 102(3); S.S.I. 2014/131, art. 2(2)(3), sch.; S.S.I. 2015/61, art. 2(1)(2), sch.

F9Words in s. 29(4) substituted (1.8.2014 for specified purposes, 1.4.2015 in so far as not already in force) by Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 (asp 8), ss. 66(2)(e), 102(3); S.S.I. 2014/131, art. 2(2)(3), sch.; S.S.I. 2015/61, art. 2(1)(2), sch.

F10S. 29(5)-(7) inserted (1.4.2004) by 2001 asp 8, ss. 73(1)(b), 81(2); S.S.I. 2003/596, art. 3(2)

F11S. 29(5A)(5B) inserted (1.8.2014 for specified purposes, 1.4.2015 in so far as not already in force) by Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 (asp 8), ss. 66(2)(f), 102(3); S.S.I. 2014/131, art. 2(2)(3), sch.; S.S.I. 2015/61, art. 2(1)(2), sch.

F12Word in s. 29(6) substituted (1.8.2014 for specified purposes, 1.4.2015 in so far as not already in force) by Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 (asp 8), ss. 66(2)(g), 102(3); S.S.I. 2014/131, art. 2(2)(3), sch.; S.S.I. 2015/61, art. 2(1)(2), sch.

F13S. 29(8)-(10) inserted (1.8.2014 for specified purposes, 1.4.2015 in so far as not already in force) by Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 (asp 8), ss. 66(2)(h), 102(3); S.S.I. 2014/131, art. 2(2)(3), sch.; S.S.I. 2015/61, art. 2(1)(2), sch.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1S. 29 restricted (8.1.2003) by 2002 c. 41, art. 54, Sch. 3 para. 1(1)(i); S.I. 2002/2811, art. 2, Sch. (with arts. 3-6)

C3S. 29(5A) applied (temp.) (5.4.2020) by Coronavirus Act 2020 (c. 7), ss. 16(10)(11), 87(2) (with ss. 16(12)(13), 88-90); S.S.I. 2020/121, reg. 2(a)