(1)A local authority looking after a child must appoint an independent person to be the child's visitor if—
(a)the child falls within a category specified in regulations, or
(b)in any other case, it appears to the authority that it would be in the child's interests to do so.
(2)A person appointed under this section must visit, befriend and advise the child.
(3)A person appointed under this section is entitled to recover from the appointing authority any reasonable expenses incurred by that person for the purposes of that person's functions under this section.
(4)A person's appointment as a visitor in pursuance of this section comes to an end if—
(a)the child ceases to be looked after by the local authority,
(b)the person resigns the appointment by giving notice in writing to the appointing authority, or
(c)the authority gives the person notice in writing that it has terminated the appointment.
(5)The ending of such an appointment does not affect any duty under this section to make a further appointment.
(6)Where a local authority proposes to appoint a visitor for a child under this section, the appointment must not be made if—
(a)the child objects to it, and
(b)the authority is satisfied that the child has sufficient understanding to make an informed objection.
(7)Where a visitor has been appointed for a child under this section, the local authority must terminate the appointment if—
(a)the child objects to its continuing, and
(b)the authority is satisfied that the child has sufficient understanding to make an informed objection.
(8)If the local authority gives effect to a child's objection under subsection (6) or (7) and the objection is to having anyone as the child's visitor, the authority does not have to propose to appoint another person under subsection (1) until the objection is withdrawn.
(9)Regulations may provide for the circumstances in which a person is to be regarded for the purposes of this section as being independent of the appointing local authority.
Commencement Information
I1S. 98 in force at 6.4.2016 by S.I. 2016/412, art. 2 (with art. 4, Schs. 1, 2)