In section 9 (fixed penalties), after subsection (1) insert—

“(1A)

The appropriate national authority may by regulations provide that, in the circumstances specified in the regulations, an authorised officer of an enforcement authority (see section 10) who has reason to believe that a person has committed an offence under section 8(4) in relation to a vehicle in relation to which the authorised officer has functions may give the person a penalty notice in respect of the offence.”

In Schedule 1 (fixed penalties), after paragraph 16 insert—

“Power to amend or modify Schedule

17

The appropriate national authority may by regulations—

(a)

amend this Schedule so as to modify its application in relation to penalty notices issued by an authorised officer of an enforcement authority of a particular kind, or

(b)

provide for this Schedule to apply with modifications in relation to such notices.”

In the Children Act 1989, after section 17 insert—

“17ZAYoung carers’ needs assessments: England

(1)

A local authority in England must assess whether a young carer within their area has needs for support and, if so, what those needs are, if—

(a)

it appears to the authority that the young carer may have needs for support, or

(b)

the authority receive a request from the young carer or a parent of the young carer to assess the young carer’s needs for support.

(2)

An assessment under subsection (1) is referred to in this Part as a “young carer’s needs assessment”.

(3)

In this Part “young carer” means a person under 18 who provides or intends to provide care for another person (but this is qualified by section 17ZB(3)).

(4)

Subsection (1) does not apply in relation to a young carer if the local authority have previously carried out a care-related assessment of the young carer in relation to the same person cared for.

(5)

But subsection (1) does apply (and so a young carer’s needs assessment must be carried out) if it appears to the authority that the needs or circumstances of the young carer or the person cared for have changed since the last care-related assessment.

(6)

“Care-related assessment” means—

(a)

a young carer’s needs assessment;

(b)

an assessment under any of the following—

(i)

section 1 of the Carers (Recognition and Services) Act 1995;

(ii)

section 1 of the Carers and Disabled Children Act 2000;

(iii)

section 4(3) of the Community Care (Delayed Discharges) Act 2003.

(7)

A young carer’s needs assessment must include an assessment of whether it is appropriate for the young carer to provide, or continue to provide, care for the person in question, in the light of the young carer’s needs for support, other needs and wishes.

(8)

A local authority, in carrying out a young carer’s needs assessment, must have regard to—

(a)

the extent to which the young carer is participating in or wishes to participate in education, training or recreation, and

(b)

the extent to which the young carer works or wishes to work.

(9)

A local authority, in carrying out a young carer’s needs assessment, must involve—

(a)

the young carer,

(b)

the young carer’s parents, and

(c)

any person who the young carer or a parent of the young carer requests the authority to involve.

(10)

A local authority that have carried out a young carer’s needs assessment must give a written record of the assessment to—

(a)

the young carer,

(b)

the young carer’s parents, and

(c)

any person to whom the young carer or a parent of the young carer requests the authority to give a copy.

(11)

Where the person cared for is under 18, the written record must state whether the local authority consider him or her to be a child in need.

(12)

A local authority in England must take reasonable steps to identify the extent to which there are young carers within their area who have needs for support.

17ZBYoung carers’ needs assessments: supplementary

(1)

This section applies for the purposes of section 17ZA.

(2)

“Parent”, in relation to a young carer, includes—

(a)

a parent of the young carer who does not have parental responsibility for the young carer, and

(b)

a person who is not a parent of the young carer but who has parental responsibility for the young carer.

(3)

A person is not a young carer if the person provides or intends to provide care—

(a)

under or by virtue of a contract, or

(b)

as voluntary work.

(4)

But in a case where the local authority consider that the relationship between the person cared for and the person under 18 providing or intending to provide care is such that it would be appropriate for the person under 18 to be regarded as a young carer, that person is to be regarded as such (and subsection (3) is therefore to be ignored in that case).

(5)

The references in section 17ZA and this section to providing care include a reference to providing practical or emotional support.

(6)

Where a local authority—

(a)

are required to carry out a young carer’s needs assessment, and

(b)

are required or have decided to carry out some other assessment of the young carer or of the person cared for;

the local authority may, subject to subsection (7), combine the assessments.

(7)

A young carer’s needs assessment may be combined with an assessment of the person cared for only if the young carer and the person cared for agree.

(8)

The Secretary of State may by regulations make further provision about carrying out a young carer’s needs assessment; the regulations may, in particular—

(a)

specify matters to which a local authority is to have regard in carrying out a young carer’s needs assessment;

(b)

specify matters which a local authority is to determine in carrying out a young carer’s needs assessment;

(c)

make provision about the manner in which a young carer’s needs assessment is to be carried out;

(d)

make provision about the form a young carer’s needs assessment is to take.

(9)

The Secretary of State may by regulations amend the list in section 17ZA(6)(b) so as to—

(a)

add an entry,

(b)

remove an entry, or

(c)

vary an entry.

17ZCConsideration of young carers’ needs assessments

A local authority that carry out a young carer’s needs assessment must consider the assessment and decide—

(a)

whether the young carer has needs for support in relation to the care which he or she provides or intends to provide;

(b)

if so, whether those needs could be satisfied (wholly or partly) by services which the authority may provide under section 17; and

(c)

if they could be so satisfied, whether or not to provide any such services in relation to the young carer.”

In the Children Act 1989, after section 17ZC (as inserted by section 96) insert—

“17ZDParent carers’ needs assessments: England

(1)

A local authority in England must, if the conditions in subsections (3) and (4) are met, assess whether a parent carer within their area has needs for support and, if so, what those needs are.

(2)

In this Part “parent carer” means a person aged 18 or over who provides or intends to provide care for a disabled child for whom the person has parental responsibility.

(3)

The first condition is that—

(a)

it appears to the authority that the parent carer may have needs for support, or

(b)

the authority receive a request from the parent carer to assess the parent carer’s needs for support.

(4)

The second condition is that the local authority are satisfied that the disabled child cared for and the disabled child’s family are persons for whom they may provide or arrange for the provision of services under section 17.

(5)

An assessment under subsection (1) is referred to in this Part as a “parent carer’s needs assessment”.

(6)

Subsection (1) does not apply in relation to a parent carer if the local authority have previously carried out a care-related assessment of the parent carer in relation to the same disabled child cared for.

(7)

But subsection (1) does apply (and so a parent carer’s needs assessment must be carried out) if it appears to the authority that the needs or circumstances of the parent carer or the disabled child cared for have changed since the last care-related assessment.

(8)

“Care-related assessment” means—

(a)

a parent carer’s needs assessment;

(b)

an assessment under any of the following—

(i)

section 1 of the Carers (Recognition and Services) Act 1995;

(ii)

section 6 of the Carers and Disabled Children Act 2000;

(iii)

section 4(3) of the Community Care (Delayed Discharges) Act 2003.

(9)

A parent carer’s needs assessment must include an assessment of whether it is appropriate for the parent carer to provide, or continue to provide, care for the disabled child, in the light of the parent carer’s needs for support, other needs and wishes.

(10)

A local authority in carrying out a parent carer’s needs assessment must have regard to—

(a)

the well-being of the parent carer, and

(b)

the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of the disabled child cared for and any other child for whom the parent carer has parental responsibility.

(11)

In subsection (10) “well-being” has the same meaning as in Part 1 of the Care Act 2014.

(12)

A local authority, in carrying out a parent carer’s needs assessment, must involve—

(a)

the parent carer,

(b)

any child for whom the parent carer has parental responsibility, and

(c)

any person who the parent carer requests the authority to involve.

(13)

A local authority that have carried out a parent carer’s needs assessment must give a written record of the assessment to—

(a)

the parent carer, and

(b)

any person to whom the parent carer requests the authority to give a copy.

(14)

A local authority in England must take reasonable steps to identify the extent to which there are parent carers within their area who have needs for support.

17ZEParent carers’ needs assessments: supplementary

(1)

This section applies for the purposes of section 17ZD.

(2)

The references in section 17ZD to providing care include a reference to providing practical or emotional support.

(3)

Where a local authority—

(a)

are required to carry out a parent carer’s needs assessment, and

(b)

are required or have decided to carry out some other assessment of the parent carer or of the disabled child cared for,

the local authority may combine the assessments.

(4)

The Secretary of State may by regulations make further provision about carrying out a parent carer’s needs assessment; the regulations may, in particular—

(a)

specify matters to which a local authority is to have regard in carrying out a parent carer’s needs assessment;

(b)

specify matters which a local authority is to determine in carrying out a parent carer’s needs assessment;

(c)

make provision about the manner in which a parent carer’s needs assessment is to be carried out;

(d)

make provision about the form a parent carer’s needs assessment is to take.

(5)

The Secretary of State may by regulations amend the list in section 17ZD(8)(b) so as to—

(a)

add an entry,

(b)

remove an entry, or

(c)

vary an entry.

17ZFConsideration of parent carers’ needs assessments

A local authority that carry out a parent carer’s needs assessment must consider the assessment and decide—

(a)

whether the parent carer has needs for support in relation to the care which he or she provides or intends to provide;

(b)

whether the disabled child cared for has needs for support;

(c)

if paragraph (a) or (b) applies, whether those needs could be satisfied (wholly or partly) by services which the authority may provide under section 17; and

(d)

if they could be so satisfied, whether or not to provide any such services in relation to the parent carer or the disabled child cared for.”

After section 23C (continuing functions in respect of former relevant children) insert—

“23CZAArrangements for certain former relevant children to continue to live with former foster parents

(1)

Each local authority in England have the duties provided for in subsection (3) in relation to a staying put arrangement.

(2)

A “staying put arrangement” is an arrangement under which—

(a)

a person who is a former relevant child by virtue of section 23C(1)(b), and

(b)

a person (a “former foster parent”) who was the former relevant child’s local authority foster parent immediately before the former relevant child ceased to be looked after by the local authority,

continue to live together after the former relevant child has ceased to be looked after.

(3)

It is the duty of the local authority (in discharging the duties in section 23C(3) and by other means)—

(a)

to monitor the staying put arrangement, and

(b)

to provide advice, assistance and support to the former relevant child and the former foster parent with a view to maintaining the staying put arrangement.

(4)

Support provided to the former foster parent under subsection (3)(b) must include financial support.

(5)

Subsection (3)(b) does not apply if the local authority consider that the staying put arrangement is not consistent with the welfare of the former relevant child.

(6)

The duties set out in subsection (3) subsist until the former relevant child reaches the age of 21.”

In Part 2 of Schedule 2 (local authority support for looked after children) after paragraph 19B (preparation for ceasing to be looked after) insert—

“Preparation for ceasing to be looked after: staying put arrangements

19BA

(1)

This paragraph applies in relation to an eligible child (within the meaning of paragraph 19B) who has been placed by a local authority in England with a local authority foster parent.

(2)

When carrying out the assessment of the child’s needs in accordance with paragraph 19B(4), the local authority must determine whether it would be appropriate to provide advice, assistance and support under this Act in order to facilitate a staying put arrangement, and with a view to maintaining such an arrangement, after the local authority cease to look after him or her.

(3)

The local authority must provide advice, assistance and support under this Act in order to facilitate a staying put arrangement if—

(a)

the local authority determine under sub-paragraph (2) that it would be appropriate to do so, and

(b)

the eligible child and the local authority foster parent wish to make a staying put arrangement.

(4)

In this paragraph, “staying put arrangement” has the meaning given by section 23CZA.”

After subsection (4A) insert—

“(4AA)

So far as is appropriate in consequence of a direction given under subsection (4A), a reference (however expressed) in an enactment, instrument or other document to a local authority is to be read as a reference to the person by whom the function is exercisable.

(4AB)

Subsection (4AC) applies if a direction given under subsection (4A) expires or is revoked without being replaced.

(4AC)

So far as is appropriate in consequence of the expiry or revocation, a reference (however expressed) in an instrument or other document to the person by whom the function was exercisable is to be read as a reference to the local authority to which the direction was given.”

In section 15 of the Local Government Act 1999 (Secretary of State’s power to secure compliance with requirements of Part 1 of that Act) after subsection (6) insert—

“(6A)

So far as is appropriate in consequence of a direction given under subsection (6)(a), a reference (however expressed) in an enactment, instrument or other document to a best value authority is to be read as a reference to the person by whom the function is exercisable.

(6B)

Subsection (6C) applies if a direction given under subsection (6)(a) expires or is revoked without being replaced.

(6C)

So far as is appropriate in consequence of the expiry or revocation, a reference (however expressed) in an instrument or other document to the person by whom the function was exercisable is to be read as a reference to the best value authority to which the direction was given.”

In section 22 of the Care Standards Act 2000 (regulation of establishments and agencies), in subsection (1), for the words from “may in particular” to the end substitute “—

(a)

regulations made by the Secretary of State may in particular make any provision such as is mentioned in subsection (1A), (2), (7) or (8), and

(b)

regulations made by the Welsh Ministers may in particular make any provision such as is mentioned in subsection (2), (7) or (8).”

In that section, after subsection (1) insert—

“(1A)

Regulations made by the Secretary of State may prescribe objectives and standards which must be met in relation to an establishment or agency for which the CIECSS is the registration authority.”

Before subsection (1) insert—

“A1

A person (“P”) who is disqualified (under section 68) from fostering a child privately must not carry on, or be otherwise concerned in the management of, or have any financial interest in, a children’s home in England unless—

(a)

P has, within the period of 28 days beginning with the day on which P became aware of P’s disqualification, disclosed to the appropriate authority the fact that P is so disqualified, and

(b)

P has obtained the appropriate authority’s written consent.

A2

A person (“E”) must not employ a person (“P”) who is so disqualified in a children’s home in England unless—

(a)

E has, within the period of 28 days beginning with the day on which E became aware of P’s disqualification, disclosed to the appropriate authority the fact that P is so disqualified, and

(b)

E has obtained the appropriate authority’s written consent.”

After section 512A insert—

“512BProvision of school lunches: Academies

(1)

Academy arrangements in relation to an Academy school or an alternative provision Academy must include provision imposing obligations on the proprietor that are equivalent to the school lunches obligations.

(2)

“The school lunches obligations” are the obligations imposed in relation to maintained schools and pupil referral units in England by—

(a)

section 512(3) (provision of school lunches on request), and

(b)

section 512ZB(1) (provision of free school lunches to eligible persons).

(3)

Academy arrangements in relation to an Academy (other than a 16 to 19 Academy) that are entered into before the date on which section 106(3) of the Children and Families Act 2014 comes into force are to be treated as if they included the provision required by subsection (1), to the extent that they do not otherwise include such provision.”