Child Care Act 1980

74 Inspection of children's homes etc. by persons authorised by Secretary of State

(1) Subject to subsection (2) below, the Secretary of State may cause to be inspected from time to time—

(a) any community home provided by a local authority under section 34 of this Act;

(b) any voluntary home (whether a community home or not);

(c) any premises in which a child is living with a person (other than his parent, guardian, relative or custodian) with whom he has been placed by an adoption agency within the meaning of section 1 of the [1976 c. 36.] Adoption Act 1976;

(d) any other premises at which one or more children in the care of a local authority are being accommodated and maintained;

(e) any other premises at which one or more children are being boarded out by a voluntary organisation, and

(f) any other premises where a protected child within the meaning of Part III of the [1976 c. 36.] Adoption Act 1976 or a foster child within the meaning of the [1980 c. 6.] Foster Children Act 1980, or a child to whom any of the provisions of the said Act of 1980 are extended by section 17 or 18 thereof, is being accommodated or maintained.

(2) Subsection (1) above does not apply to any home or other premises which is as a whole subject to inspection by or under the authority of a government department.

(3) An inspection under this section shall be conducted by a person authorised in that behalf by the Secretary of State, but an officer of a local authority shall not be so authorised except with the consent of that authority.

(4) Any person inspecting a home or other premises under this section may inspect the children therein and make such examination into the state and management of the home or other premises and the treatment of children therein as he thinks fit.