PART 3INTEGRATED FAMILY SUPPORT TEAMS

Teams

58Functions of integrated family support teams

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An integrated family support team must carry out the family support functions that are assigned to it by the local authority with the consent of each Local Health Board that relates to the team.

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Family support functions are—

a

prescribed social services functions (within the meaning of the Local Authority Social Services Act 1970 (c. 42)), or

b

prescribed functions of—

i

a Local Health Board, or

ii

an NHS trust established under section 18 of the National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006 (c. 42).

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For the purposes of this Part, a Local Health Board relates to an integrated family support team if any part of the Local Health Board's area lies within the area covered by the team.

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The functions of an integrated family support team are to be carried out under the direction of an integrated family support board established under section 61.

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The family support functions of an integrated family support team are to be carried out in respect of a family referred to it by the local authority.

6

A local authority may refer a family to an integrated family support team if it reasonably believes or suspects that a parent of a child in that family (or a prospective parent)—

I1I3I4a

is dependent on alcohol or drugs,

b

is a victim of domestic violence or abuse,

c

has a history of violent or abusive behaviour, or

d

has a mental disorder.

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For the purposes of subsection (5), “family” includes each of the following—

a

a child in need (or a looked after child), the parents of the child and, if the authority thinks it is appropriate, any other individual connected with the child or the parents;

b

individuals who are about to become the parents of a child in circumstances where subsection (8) applies and, if the local authority thinks it appropriate, any other individual connected with the individuals who are about to become the parents of that child.

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This subsection applies if the local authority is of the opinion that the child is likely to be a child in need if the individual becomes the parent of that child.

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An integrated family support team must evaluate and record the effectiveness of its work with the families referred to it.

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Regulations may—

a

assign family support functions to an integrated family support team;

b

allow local authorities to make referrals to the integrated family support team in circumstances not mentioned in this section.

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The assignment of functions under this section does not affect—

a

the liability of a Local Health Board for the exercise of any of its functions,

b

the liability of a local authority for the exercise of any of its functions, or

c

any power or duty to recover charges in respect of services provided in the exercise of any local authority functions.

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A function assigned under this section is exercisable concurrently by the integrated family support team and the body on whom the function is conferred.

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In this section—

  • “abuse” (“cam-drin”) includes both sexual activity without consent and unreasonable behaviour liable to cause serious psychological harm; abuse is “domestic abuse” if it is from an individual who is associated with the victim; and “abusive” is to be interpreted accordingly;

  • “child in need” (“plentyn mewn angen”) means a child in need for the purposes of Part 3 of the Children Act 1989 (c. 41);

  • “looked after child” (“plentyn sy'n derbyn gofal”) means a child looked after by a local authority (within the meaning of section 22(1) of the Children Act 1989 (c. 41));

  • “mental disorder” (“anhwylder meddwl”) means any disorder or disability of the mind;

  • “parent”, (“rhiant”) in relation to a child, includes any individual—

    1. a

      who is not a parent of the child but who has parental responsibility for the child, or

    2. b

      who has care of the child;

  • “violence” (“trais”) means violence or threats of violence which are likely to be carried out and

  • “violent” is to be interpreted accordingly; violence is domestic violence if it is from an individual who is associated with the victim.

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For the purposes of the definition of “parent” in subsection (13)—

a

“parental responsibility” has the same meaning as in the Children Act 1989 (c. 41);

b

in determining whether an individual has care of a child, any absence of the child at a hospital, children's home or foster placement and any other temporary absence is to be disregarded.