The Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995

11.  Every authority shall take such steps as are reasonably practicable, where any child within the authority’s area who is in need and whom the authority is not looking after is living apart from his family—

(a)to enable him to live with his family; or

(b)to promote contact between him and his family,

if, in the opinion of the authority, it is necessary to do so in order to safeguard or promote his welfare.