(1)Subject to subsections (2) and (3) below, where a parental responsibilities order is made as respects a child it shall be the duty of the local authority which applied for it (in this section and in section 88 of this Act referred to as the “appropriate authority”) to fulfil the transferred responsibilities while the order remains in force.
(2)Notwithstanding that a parental responsibilities order has been made as respects a child, the appropriate authority may allow, either for a fixed period or until the authority otherwise determine, the child to reside with a parent, guardian, relative or friend of his in any case where it appears to the authority that so to allow would be for the benefit of the child.
(3)Without prejudice to any other provision of this Part of this Act, where by virtue of subsection (2) above a child is residing with a person, the appropriate authority may by notice in writing to the person require him to return the child to them by a time specified in the notice; and service of such notice shall be effected either by the authority leaving it in the person’s hands or by their sending it to him, at his and the child’s most recent known address, by recorded delivery service.
(4)For the purposes of any application for a parental responsibilities order, rules shall provide for the appointment, in such cases as are prescribed by such rules—
(a)of a person to act as curator ad litem to the child in question at the hearing of the application, safeguarding the interests of the child in such manner as may be so prescribed; and
(b)of a person (to be known as a “reporting officer”) to witness agreements to parental responsibilities orders and to perform such other duties as may be so prescribed,
but one person may, as respects the child, be appointed both under paragraph (a) and under paragraph (b) above; so however that, where the applicant is a local authority, no employee of theirs shall be appointed under either or both of those paragraphs.
(5)Rules may provide for a person to be appointed reporting officer before the application in question is made.