In these Regulations—

• “the 1989 Act” means the Children Act 1989;

• “the 2000 Act” means the Care Standards Act 20004;

• “foster parent” means a person with whom a child is placed, or may be placed, under these Regulations by a voluntary organisation under section 59(1)(a) of the 1989 Act;

• “fostering agency” has the meaning given in section 4(4) of the 2000 Act5;

• “fostering service provider” means—

  1. a

     a fostering agency, or

  2. b

     in relation to a local authority fostering service, a local authority;

• “placement” means the provision of accommodation for a child who is not looked after6 by a local authority—

  1. a

     by a voluntary organisation7 by any of the means specified in section 59(1)(a), (aa)8 or (f) of the 1989 Act (provision of accommodation by voluntary organisations), and

  2. b

     in a private children’s home 9(otherwise than by, or on behalf of, a local authority10, or voluntary organisation),

     and references to “place” or “placed” are to be construed accordingly;

• “placement plan” has the meaning given in regulation 4(1);

• “Primary Care Trust” means a Primary Care Trust continued or established in accordance with section 18 of the National Health Service Act 200611;

• “responsible authority” means—

  1. a

     in relation to a placement by a voluntary organisation of a child, the voluntary organisation which place the child, and

  2. b

     in relation to a placement in a private children’s home of a child who is neither looked after by a local authority nor accommodated in such a home by a voluntary organisation, the person carrying on the home.

In these Regulations any reference to any document or other record includes any such document or record that is kept or provided in a readily accessible form and includes copies or original documents and electronic methods of recording information.