- Latest available (Revised)
- Original (As enacted)
Adoption and Children Act 2002, Section 3 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 01 September 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.
Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. Changes and effects are recorded by our editorial team in lists which can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. Where those effects have yet to be applied to the text of the legislation by the editorial team they are also listed alongside the legislation in the affected provisions. Use the ‘more’ link to open the changes and effects relevant to the provision you are viewing.
Whole provisions yet to be inserted into this Act (including any effects on those provisions):
(1)Each local authority must continue to maintain within their area a service designed to meet the needs, in relation to adoption, of—
(a)children who may be adopted, their parents and guardians,
(b)persons wishing to adopt a child, and
(c)adopted persons, their parents, natural parents and former guardians;
and for that purpose must provide the requisite facilities.
(2)Those facilities must include making, and participating in, arrangements—
(a)for the adoption of children, and
(b)for the provision of adoption support services.
(3)As part of the service, the arrangements made for the purposes of subsection (2)(b)—
(a)must extend to the provision of adoption support services to persons who are within a description prescribed by regulations,
(b)may extend to the provision of those services to other persons.
(4)A local authority may provide any of the requisite facilities by securing their provision by—
(a)registered adoption societies, or
(b)other persons who are within a description prescribed by regulations of persons who may provide the facilities in question.
(5)The facilities of the service must be provided in conjunction with the local authority’s other social services and with registered adoption societies in their area, so that help may be given in a co-ordinated manner without duplication, omission or avoidable delay.
(6)The social services referred to in subsection (5) are the functions of a local authority which are social services functions within the meaning of the Local Authority Social Services Act 1970 (c. 42) [F1or for the purposes of the 2014 Act (which, in each case, include], in particular, those functions in so far as they relate to children).
Textual Amendments
F1Words in s. 3(6) substituted (6.4.2016) by The Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/413), regs. 2(1), 190
Commencement Information
I1S. 3(1)(2)(5)(6) in force at 30.12.2005 by S.I. 2005/2213, art. 2(b) (with savings and transitional provisions in S.I. 2005/2897, arts. 3-16)
I2S. 3(3)(4) in force at 7.12.2004 for specified purposes for E. by S.I. 2004/3203, art. 2(1)(m)(i)
I3S. 3(3)(4) in force at 6.6.2005 for W. by S.I. 2005/1206, art. 2
I4S. 3(3)(4) in force at 30.12.2005 for E. in so far as not already in force by S.I. 2005/2213, art. 3(a) (with savings and transitional provisions in S.I. 2005/2897, arts. 3-16)
The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download.
Would you like to continue?
The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area.
Original (As Enacted or Made): The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.
Geographical Extent: Indicates the geographical area that this provision applies to. For further information see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.
Show Timeline of Changes: See how this legislation has or could change over time. Turning this feature on will show extra navigation options to go to these specific points in time. Return to the latest available version by using the controls above in the What Version box.
Text created by the government department responsible for the subject matter of the Act to explain what the Act sets out to achieve and to make the Act accessible to readers who are not legally qualified. Explanatory Notes were introduced in 1999 and accompany all Public Acts except Appropriation, Consolidated Fund, Finance and Consolidation Acts.
Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:
This timeline shows the different points in time where a change occurred. The dates will coincide with the earliest date on which the change (e.g an insertion, a repeal or a substitution) that was applied came into force. The first date in the timeline will usually be the earliest date when the provision came into force. In some cases the first date is 01/02/1991 (or for Northern Ireland legislation 01/01/2006). This date is our basedate. No versions before this date are available. For further information see the Editorial Practice Guide and Glossary under Help.
Use this menu to access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:
Click 'View More' or select 'More Resources' tab for additional information including: