(1)The responsible local authority for a category 1 young person must carry out an assessment of the young person’s needs with a view to determining what advice and other support it would be appropriate for it to provide to the young person under this Part—
(a)while it is still looking after the young person, and
(b)after it ceases to look after the young person.
(2)The responsible local authority for a category 2 or category 3 young person who does not already have a pathway plan must carry out an assessment of the young person’s needs with a view to determining what advice and other support it would be appropriate for it to provide to the young person under this Part.
(3)After conducting an assessment under subsection (1) or (2), the local authority must prepare a pathway plan and maintain it for as long as the young person falls within category 1, 2 or 3 (but see subsection (12)).
(4)The responsible local authority for a category 4 young person must carry out an assessment of the young person’s needs with a view to determining what advice and other support (if any) it would be appropriate for it to provide to the young person under this Part.
(5)In conducting an assessment under subsection (4), the local authority may take into account any duty that it may have to make a payment to the young person under section 112(2).
(6)After conducting an assessment under subsection (4), the local authority must prepare a pathway plan.
(7)A pathway plan is a plan setting out—
(a)in the case of a plan for a category 1 young person—
(i)the advice and other support which the local authority intends to provide for the young person under this Part, both while it is looking after the young person and later, and
(ii)when it might cease to look after the young person;
(b)in the case of a plan for a category 2, category 3 or category 4 young person, the advice and other support which the local authority intends to provide for the young person under this Part;
(c)such other matters (if any) as may be specified in regulations.
(8)Regulations may make provision as to assessments for the purposes of this section.
(9)The regulations may, for example, make provision about—
(a)the persons who are to be consulted in relation to an assessment;
(b)the way in which an assessment is to be carried out, by whom and when;
(c)the recording of the results of an assessment;
(d)the considerations to which the local authority are to have regard in carrying out an assessment.
(10)The local authority must keep the pathway plan under regular review (but see subsections (12) and (13)).
(11)The local authority may carry out an assessment or review under this section at the same time as any other assessment or review of the young person’s needs.
(12)In the case of a category 3 young person, the duties under subsections (3) and (10) are subject to section 111.
(13)In the case of a category 4 young person, the duty under subsection (10) is subject to section 113.