The Refuges for Children (Scotland) Regulations 1996

Requirements where designation or approval in force

8.—(1) The provisions of this regulation shall apply while a designation or as the case may be an approval under these Regulations is in force with respect to a residential establishment or household.

(2) A person whose household has been designated under regulation 3(b) shall notify the local authority forthwith of–

(a) any change in the composition of his household or in the accommodation in the household; and

(b) any other change in his personal circumstances and any other event affecting either his capacity to provide refuge for a child or the suitability of his household for that purpose.

(3) A person who carries on a residential establishment which has been approved under regulation 5 shall notify the local authority forthwith of–

(a) any change in the accommodation in the establishment (or the part of it) approved for use as a refuge; and

(b) any other change in his circumstances or any other event affecting either his capacity (or the capacity of his employees at the establishment) to provide refuge for a child or the suitability of the establishment for that purpose.

(4) As soon as reasonably practicable after providing refuge for a child, and in any event within 24 hours of such provision, the person carrying on a residential establishment approved under regulation 5 shall notify the local authority and the authorised officer–

(a) that a child is being provided with refuge;

(b) of the name of the child, his last permanent address, and the name and address of any responsible person in relation to the child as far as he has been able to ascertain that information;

(c) of the telephone number by which the person providing the refuge may be contacted.

(5) Where subsequent to giving notification under paragraph (4) above the person discovers any of the information specified in that paragraph not previously known to him, he shall immediately notify the local authority and the authorised officer accordingly.

(6) As soon as reasonably practicable after a local authority provide refuge for a child in a designated residential establishment, or arrange for a person to provide a child with refuge in a designated household, and in any event within 24 hours of such provision, the authority shall notify the authorised officer of the information specified in paragraph (4) above.

(7) Where subsequent to giving notice under paragraph (6) the local authority discover any information specified in paragraph (4) not previously known to them, they should immediately notify the authorised officer accordingly.

(8) Where a local authority:–

(a) has been notified under paragraph (4); or

(b) has provided refuge for a child in a designated residential establishment, or arranged for a person to provide a child with a refuge in a designated household,

they shall have a duty as soon as reasonably practicable after providing a refuge or arranging a refuge or receiving notification under paragraph 8(4) to notify in writing, insofar as the information is reasonably ascertainable by the local authority–

(i) a responsible person in relation to the child; and

(ii) any local authority in whose area the child had his last permanent address (and this duty shall subsist in respect of subsequently ascertained relevant information about the identity of responsible persons or last permanent address),

with the said notification only required to advise that the child has been admitted to a refuge.