Foster Children Act 1980 (repealed 14.10.1991)

Control by local authorities of fostering E+W

8 Power to inspect premises. E+W

Any officer of a local authority authorised to visit foster children may, after producing, if asked to do so, some duly authenticated document showing that he is so authorised, inspect any premises in the area of the authority in the whole or any part of which foster children are to be or are being kept.

9 Power to impose requirements as to the keeping of foster children. E+W

(1) Where a person is keeping or proposes to keep foster children in premises used (while foster children are kept in them) wholly or partly for that purpose, the local authority may impose on him requirements as to—

(a) the number, age and sex of the foster children who may be kept at any one time in the premises or any part of them;

(b) the accommodation and equipment to be provided for the children;

(c) the medical arrangements to be made for protecting the health of the children;

(d) the giving of particulars of the person for the time being in charge of the children;

(e) the number, qualifications or experience of persons employed in looking after the children;

(f) the keeping of records;

(g) the fire precautions to be taken in the premises;

(h) the giving of particulars of any foster child received in the premises and of any change in the number or identity of the foster children kept in them.

(2) A requirement imposed under this section may be limited to a particular class of foster children kept in the premises; and a requirement imposed under paragraphs (b) to (h) above may be limited by the authority so as to apply only when the number of foster children kept in the premises exceeds a specified number.

(3) A person shall, after such time as the local authority may specify, comply with any requirement imposed on him under this section whenever a foster child is kept in the premises in question.

(4) A requirement imposed under this section shall be imposed by notice in writing addressed to the person on whom it is imposed and informing him of his right under section 11(1) below to appeal against the requirement and of the time within which he may do so.

10 Power to prohibit the keeping of foster children. E+W

(1) Where a person proposes to keep a foster child in any premises and the local authority are of the opinion that—

(a) the premises are not suitable premises in which to keep foster children, or

(b) that person is not a suitable person to have the care and maintenance of foster children, or

(c) it would be detrimental to that child to be kept by that person in those premises,

the local authority may impose a prohibition on that person under subsection (2) below.

(2) A prohibition imposed on any person under this subsection may—

(a) prohibit him from keeping any foster child in premises specified in the prohibition; or

(b) prohibit him from keeping any foster child in any premises in the area of the local authority; or

(c) prohibit him from keeping a particular child specified in the prohibition in premises so specified.

(3) A local authority who have imposed a prohibition on any person under subsection (2) above, may, if they think fit, cancel the prohibition, either of their own motion or on an application made by that person on the ground of a change in the circumstances in which a foster child would be kept by him.

(4) Where a local authority impose a requirement on any person under section 9 above as respects any premises, they may prohibit him from keeping foster children in the premises after the time specified for compliance with the requirement unless the requirement is complied with.

(5) A prohibition imposed under this section shall be imposed by notice in writing addressed to the person on whom it is imposed and informing him of his right under section 11(1) below to appeal against the prohibition and of the time within which he may do so.