(1)A local authority must meet a child’s needs for care and support if it is satisfied that conditions 1 and 2, and any conditions specified in regulations, are met (but see subsections (5) and (6)).
(2)Condition 1 is that the child is within the local authority’s area.
(3)Condition 2 is that—
(a)the needs meet the eligibility criteria, or
(b)the local authority considers it necessary to meet the needs in order to protect the child from—
(i)abuse or neglect or a risk of abuse or neglect, or
(ii)other harm or a risk of such harm.
(4)If the local authority has been notified about a child under section 120(2)(a), it must treat the child as being within its area for the purposes of this section.
(5)The duty under subsection (1) does not apply to a child’s needs to the extent that the local authority is satisfied that those needs are being met by the child’s family or a carer.
(6)This section does not apply to a child who is looked after by—
(a)a local authority,
(b)a local authority in England,
(c)a local authority in Scotland, or
(d)a Health and Social Care trust.