Children’s Homes Regulations 1991

Absence of person in charge of voluntary or registered children’s home

21.—(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (4), where the person in charge of a voluntary home or registered children’s home proposes to be absent from the home for a continuous period of four weeks or more, he shall give written notice to that effect to the registration authority at least four weeks before the absence is due to begin.

(2) Subject to paragraph (4), where it is necessary for the person in charge to be absent from the home for a continuous period of four weeks or more in circumstances where it would be impracticable to give the period of notice mentioned in paragraph (1) the registration authority may accept such shorter notice as appears reasonable.

(3) Subject to paragraph (4), where paragraph (1) applies, the person for the time being in charge of a voluntary or registered children’s home shall inform the registration authority at least seven days before the beginning of the absence of—

(a) its occurrence and anticipated duration;

(b) the reason for it;

(c) the number of children accommodated when the information is given;

(d) the arrangements which have been made for the running of the home;

(e) the name, address and qualifications of the person who will for the time being be in charge.

(4) Nothing in this regulation shall require notification to be given to the registration authority if in a case falling within paragraph (1) or (2) no child is to be accommodated during the period of the absence.

(5) If, in any case referred to in paragraph (4) of this regulation, a child is provided with accommodation in the home during the period of absence, the person for the time being in charge shall, within seven days of the child first being provided with accommodation, inform the registration authority of the matters mentioned in paragraph (3).

(6) Within seven days of the return of the person in charge, or the appointment of some other person in his place, the responsible authority shall notify the registration authority of that fact.

(7) If, in the case of a registered children’s home the person in charge is also the responsible authority, anything required to be done by or to the responsible authority shall be done by or to (as the case may require) the person for the time being in charge of the home.