Mental Health Act 1959

79 Reception into guardianship of persons sent to approved schools

(1) If in the case of a child or young person detained in an approved school the Secretary of State is satisfied by the like reports as are required for the purposes of section seventy-two of this Act—

(a) that the child or young person is suffering from mental illness, psychopathic disorder, subnormality or severe subnormality; and

(b) that the mental disorder is of a nature or degree which warrants the reception of the patient into guardianship under this Act;

the Secretary of State may, if he is of opinion having regard to the public interest and to all the circumstances that it is expedient so to do, by warrant direct that he be placed under the guardianship of a local health authority or of any such other person approved by a local health authority as may be specified in the direction.

(2) A direction shall not be given under this section placing a person under the guardianship of a local health authority or other person unless the Secretary of State is satisfied that that authority or person is willing to receive that person into guardianship.

(3) A direction under this section with respect to any person shall have the like effect as a guardianship order made in his case.