Children (Leaving Care) Act (Northern Ireland) 2002

Personal advisers and pathway plans

3.  After Article 34D of the Children Order (inserted by section 2) there shall be inserted the following Articles—

“Personal advisers

34E.— (1) The Department may by regulations require every authority to appoint a personal adviser for children or young persons of a prescribed description who have reached the age of 16 but not the age of 21 who are not—

(a) the children referred to in Article 34A(10);

(b) children who are relevant children for the purposes of Article 34B; or

(c) the young persons referred to in Article 34D.

(2) Personal advisers appointed under this Part shall (in addition to any other functions) have such functions as the Department prescribes.

Pathway plans

34F.— (1) In this Part, a reference to a “pathway plan” is to a plan setting out—

(a) in the case of a plan prepared under Article 34A—

(i) the advice, assistance and support which the authority intends to provide a child under this Part, both while the authority is looking after him and later; and

(ii) when the authority might cease to look after him; and

(b) in the case of a plan prepared under Article 34C, the advice, assistance and support which the authority intends to provide under this Part,

and dealing with such other matters (if any) as may be prescribed.

(2) The Department may by regulations make provision about pathway plans and their review.”.