It shall be the duty of local authorities from time to time to cause children in voluntary homes in their area, other than community homes, to be visited in the interests of the well-being of the children, and any person authorised in that behalf by a local authority may enter any such voluntary home in the area of the authority for the purpose of visiting the children in the home.

Any person authorised in that behalf by a local authority may enter any voluntary home outside the area of the authority for the purpose of visiting children in the home who are in the care of the authority under section 2 of this Act or are for the time being committed to the care of the authority by a care order or by a warrant under section 23(1) of the M1Children and Young Persons Act 1969 (which relates to remands in the care of local authorities).

Nothing in subsection (1) or (2) above shall apply to a voluntary home which, otherwise than by virtue of section 74 of this Act, is as a whole subject to inspection by or under the authority of a government department.

A person who proposes to exercise any power of entry or inspection conferred by this section shall if so required produce some duly authenticated document showing his authority to exercise the power.

Any person who obstructs the exercise of any power of entry or inspection conferred by this section shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £25 or, in the case of a second or subsequent conviction, to a fine not exceeding £50.