The Children’s Homes Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005

Children’s case records

27.—(1) The registered person shall maintain in respect of each child who is accommodated in a children’s home a record in permanent form which –

(a) includes the information, documents and records specified in Schedule 3 relating to that child;

(b) is kept up to date, is accurate and necessary; and

(c) is signed and dated by the author of each written entry and those persons monitoring the records.

(2) The record mentioned in paragraph (1) may not be disclosed to any person except in accordance with –

(a) any statutory provision under which access to such records is authorised; or

(b) any court order authorising access to such records.

(3) The record mentioned in paragraph (1) shall be –

(a) kept securely in the children’s home so long as the child to whom it relates is accommodated there; and

(b) thereafter retained in a place of security,

for at least seventy-five years from the date of birth of the child to whom it relates or, if the child dies before attaining the age of 18, for a period of fifteen years from the date of his death.