PART 12

Services in relation to children at risk of becoming looked after, etc.

Provision of relevant services to parents and others
68
1
A local authority must make arrangements to secure that relevant services of such description as the Scottish Ministers may by order specify are made available for––
a
each eligible child residing in its area,
b
a qualifying person in relation to such a child,
c
each eligible pregnant woman residing in its area,
d
a qualifying person in relation to such a woman.
2
A “relevant service” is a service comprising, or comprising any combination of—
a
providing information about a matter,
b
advising or counselling about a matter,
c
taking other action to facilitate the addressing of a matter by a person.
3
An “eligible child” is a child who the authority considers—
a
to be at risk of becoming looked after, or
b
to fall within such other description as the Scottish Ministers may by order specify.
4
A “qualifying person” in relation to an eligible child is a person—
a
who is related to the child,
b
who has any parental rights or responsibilities in relation to the child, or
c
with whom the child is, or has been, living.
5
An “eligible pregnant woman” is a pregnant woman who the authority considers is going to give birth to a child who will be an eligible child.
6
A “qualifying person” in relation to an eligible pregnant woman is a person—
a
who is the father of the child to whom the pregnant woman is to give birth,
b
who is married to, in a civil partnership with or otherwise related to the pregnant woman,
c
with whom the pregnant woman is living, or
d
who does not fall within any of paragraphs (a) to (c) but who the authority considers will, when the pregnant woman gives birth to the child, become a qualifying person in relation to the child.
7
The references in this section to a person who is related to another person (“the other person”) includes a person who—
a
is married to or in a civil partnership with a person who is related to the other person,
b
is related to the other person by the half blood.
8
This section is without prejudice to section 22 of the 1995 Act.

Relevant services: further provision
69
1
The Scottish Ministers may by order make provision about—
a
when or how relevant services specified in an order under section 68(1) are to be provided,
b
when or how a local authority is to consider whether a child is within paragraph (a) or (b) of section 68(3),
c
when or how a local authority is to review whether a child continues to be within paragraph (a) or (b) of section 68(3),
d
such other matters about the provision of relevant services specified in an order under section 68(1) as the Scottish Ministers consider appropriate.
2
An order under subsection (1)(d) may include provision about—
a
circumstances in which relevant services specified in an order under section 68(1) may be provided subject to conditions (including conditions as to payment), and
b
consequences of such conditions not being met.

Interpretation of Part 12
70
The following expressions have the same meaning in this Part as they have in Part 1 of the 1995 Act—
- parental responsibilities
- parental rights.
S. 69 in force at 1.8.2014 by S.S.I. 2014/131, art. 2(2)(3), Sch.
S. 70 in force at 1.8.2014 by S.S.I. 2014/131, art. 2(2)(3), Sch.
S. 68 in force at 31.8.2016 in so far as not already in force by S.S.I. 2016/60, art. 2(a)(ii)
S. 68 in force at 1.8.2014 for specified purposes by S.S.I. 2014/131, art. 2(2)(3), Sch.