Children and Families Act 2014

31 Co-operating in specific cases: local authority functions

(1) This section applies where a local authority in England requests the co-operation of any of the following persons and bodies in the exercise of a function under this Part—

(a) another local authority;

(b) a youth offending team;

(c) the person in charge of any relevant youth accommodation;

(d) the National Health Service Commissioning Board;

(e) a clinical commissioning group;

(f) a Local Health Board;

(g) an NHS trust or NHS foundation trust.

(2) The person or body must comply with the request, unless the person or body considers that doing so would—

(a) be incompatible with the duties of the person or body, or

(b) otherwise have an adverse effect on the exercise of the functions of the person or body.

(3) A person or body that decides not to comply with a request under subsection (1) must give the authority that made the request written reasons for the decision.

(4) Regulations may provide that, where a person or body is under a duty to comply with a request to co-operate with a local authority in securing an EHC needs assessment, a detained person’s EHC needs assessment or the preparation of an EHC plan, the person or body must comply with the request within a prescribed period, unless a prescribed exception applies.