Part 9Children's services

Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children

195Targets for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children

(1)

Before section 10 of the Children Act 2004 (c. 31) insert—

“9ATargets for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children

(1)

The Secretary of State may, in accordance with regulations, set safeguarding targets for a children's services authority in England.

(2)

The regulations may, in particular—

(a)

make provision about matters by reference to which safeguarding targets may, or must, be set;

(b)

make provision about periods to which safeguarding targets may, or must, relate;

(c)

make provision about the procedure for setting safeguarding targets;

(d)

specify requirements with which a children's services authority in England must comply in connection with the setting of safeguarding targets.

(3)

In exercising their functions, a children's services authority in England must act in the manner best calculated to secure that any safeguarding targets set under this section (so far as relating to the area of the authority) are met.

(4)

“Safeguarding targets”, in relation to a children's services authority in England, are targets for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children in the authority's area.”

(2)

In section 66 of that Act (regulations and orders)—

(a)

in subsection (4) after “containing” insert “ the first regulations under section 9A or ”;

(b)

in subsection (5)(a) for “to which subsection (3) does not apply” substitute “ to which neither of subsections (3) and (4) applies ”.

(3)

In Schedule 1 to the Local Authority Social Services Act 1970 (c. 42) (social services functions) in the entry relating to the Children Act 2004—

(a)

in the first column, after “Sections” insert “ 9A, ”;

(b)

in the second column, after “to” insert “ targets for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and to ”.