Adoption and Children Act (Northern Ireland) 2022

33.  In Article 34F (pathway plans)—

(a) in paragraph (1)—

(i) after sub-paragraph (a) (but before the “and” at the end) insert—

“(aa) in the case of a plan prepared under Article 34DB, the advice and support that the authority intend to provide;”;

(ii) in sub-paragraph (b) after “Article 34C” insert “or Article 34DC”;

(b) after paragraph (1) insert—

“(1A) An authority may carry out an assessment under Article 34DB(5) of a person’s needs at the same time as any assessment of the person’s needs is made under Article 34DC(3).

(1B) The Department may by regulations make provision as to assessments for the purposes ofArticle 34C(3), 34DB(5) or 34DC.

(1C) Regulations under paragraph (1B) may in particular make provision about—

(a) who is to be consulted in relation to an assessment;

(b) the way in which an assessment is to be carried out, by whom and when;

(c) the recording of the results of an assessment;

(d) the considerations to which an authority is to have regard in carrying out an assessment.

(1D) An authority must keep each pathway plan prepared by them underArticle 34C, 34DB or 34DC under review.”.