Introductory Text
PART I INTRODUCTORY
1.Title and commencement
2.Interpretation
PART II GENERAL
Child's welfare
3.Child's welfare to be paramount consideration
4.Reports on child's welfare
Parental responsibility
5.Parental responsibility for children
6.Meaning of “parental responsibility”
7.Acquisition of parental responsibility
PART III ORDERS WITH RESPECT TO CHILDREN IN FAMILY PROCEEDINGS
General
8.Residence, contact and other orders with respect to children
9.Restrictions on making Article 8 orders
10.Power of court to make Article 8 orders
11.General principles and supplementary provisions
12.Residence orders and parental responsibility
12A.Residence and contact orders and domestic violence
13.Change of child's name or removal from jurisdiction
14.Enforcement of residence orders
Financial relief
15.Orders for financial relief with respect to children
Family assistance orders
16.Family assistance orders
PART IV SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES
Children in need and their families
17.Interpretation
17A.Assessments and services for children who are carers
18.General duty of authority to provide personal social services for children in need, their families and others
18A.Assessments: carers of disabled children
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
18C.Direct payments
18D.Information for carers
19.Day care for pre-school and other children
20.Review of provision for day care, child minding, etc.
21.Provision of accommodation for children: general
22.Powers of person with parental responsibility
23.Provision of accommodation for children in police protection
24.Recoupment of cost of providing services, etc.
Children looked after by an authority
25.Interpretation
26.General duty of authority
27.Accommodation and maintenance for children
28.Regulations under Article 27
29.Promotion and maintenance of contact between child and family
30.Visits to or by children: expenses
31.Appointment of visitor for child who is not being visited
32.Power to guarantee apprenticeship deeds, etc.
33.Arrangements to assist children to live abroad
34.Death of children being looked after by an authority
34A.Preparation for ceasing to be looked after
34B.The responsible authority and relevant children
34C.Additional functions of the responsible authority in respect of relevant children
34D.Continuing functions in respect of former relevant children
34E.Personal advisers
34F.Pathway Plans
Advice and assistance for certain children and young persons
35.Persons qualifying for advice and assistance
35A.Advice and assistance
35B.Employment, education and training
35C.Information
35D.Representations: Articles 34B to 35B
Arts. 36, 37 rep. by 2002 c. 11 (NI)
Contributions towards maintenance of children looked after by an authority
38.Interpretation
39.Liability to contribute
40.Agreed contributions
41.Contribution orders
42.Enforcement of contribution orders, etc.
43.Regulations
Miscellaneous
44.Secure accommodation
45.Reviews and representations
46.Co-operation between authorities and other bodies
47.Consultation with education and library boards
48.Miscellaneous
PART V CARE AND SUPERVISION
Introductory
49.Interpretation
General
50.Care orders and supervision orders
51.Timetable for proceedings
Care orders
52.Effect of care order
53.Parental contact etc. with children in care
Supervision orders
54.Supervision orders
Education supervision orders
55.Education supervision orders
Powers of court
56.Investigation into child's circumstances
57.Interim orders
57A.Power to include exclusion requirement in interim care order
58.Discharge and variation, etc., of care orders and supervision orders
59.Orders pending appeals in cases about care or supervision orders
Guardians ad litem
60.Representation of child and of his interests in certain proceedings
61.Right of guardian ad litem to have access to records
PART VI PROTECTION OF CHILDREN
62.Child assessment orders
63.Orders for emergency protection of children
63A.Power to include exclusion requirement in emergency protection order
64.Duration of emergency protection orders and other supplementary provisions
65.Removal and accommodation of children by police in cases of emergency
66.Authority's duty to investigate
67.Powers to assist in discovery of children who may be in need of emergency protection
68.Abduction of children in care, etc.
69.Recovery of abducted children, etc.
70.Refuges for children at risk
71.Rules of court and regulations
PART VII HOMES PROVIDED BY AN AUTHORITY
72.Provision of homes by an authority
73.Regulations
PART VIII VOLUNTARY HOMES AND VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS
Introductory
74.Interpretation
Voluntary organisations
75.Provision of accommodation for children
76.Duties of voluntary organisations
77.Duties of an authority
Voluntary homes
78.Persons disqualified from carrying on, or being employed in, voluntary homes
78A.Appeal against refusal of consent under Article 78
Arts. 79‐88 rep. by 2003 NI 9
Regulations
89.Regulations
PART IX PRIVATE CHILDREN'S HOMES
Introductory
90.Interpretation
91.“Children's home” further defined
General
92.Duties of person carrying on private children's home
93.Duties of an authority
94.Persons disqualified from carrying on, or being employed in, private children's homes
94A.Appeal against refusal of consent under Article 94
Registration
Arts. 95‐104 rep. by 2003 NI 9
Regulations
105.Regulations
PART X PRIVATE ARRANGEMENTS FOR FOSTERING CHILDREN
106.Interpretation
107.Privately fostered children further defined
108.Welfare of privately fostered children
109.Persons disqualified from being private foster parents
110.Power to prohibit private fostering
111.Power to impose requirements
112.Regulations requiring notification of fostering, etc.
113.Appeals
114.Application of this Part to certain school children during holidays
115.Advertisements relating to fostering
116.Avoidance of insurances on lives of privately fostered children
117.Offences
PART XI CHILD MINDING AND DAY CARE FOR YOUNG CHILDREN
118.Registration
119.Persons who act as child minders
120.Persons who provide day care for children under the age of twelve
121.Exemptions
122.Disqualified persons
123.Application for registration
124.Refusal of registration
125.Requirements to be complied with by child minders
126.Requirements to be complied with by persons providing day care for young children
127.Certificate of registration
128.Cancellation of registration
129.Protection of children in an emergency
130.Inspection
131.Appeals
132.Offences
PART XII EMPLOYMENT OF CHILDREN
Introductory
133.Interpretation
134.Exemptions and saving
General
135.General restrictions on the employment of children
136.Regulations with respect to the employment of children
Performances
137.Restrictions on taking part in public performances, etc.
138.Granting of licences
139.Variation and revocation of licences
140.Requirement to keep and produce records
Dangerous performances
141.Performances endangering life or limb
142.Training for performances of a dangerous nature
143.Licensing of training children over twelve for performances of a dangerous nature
Supplementary
144.Notice of refusal of licence, etc.
145.Appeal against refusal of licence, etc.
146.Powers of entry
147.Offences
148.Defences
PART XIII DEPARTMENT'S SUPERVISORY FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
149.Inspection of children's homes, etc., by Department
150.Powers of persons authorised by Department
151.Power to exempt children's homes, etc., from inspection
Art. 152 rep. by 2005 c. 12
153.Child care training
154.Research and information
PART XIV PARENTS NOT MARRIED TO EACH OTHER
155.Parents not being married to each other to have no effect in law on relationships
156.Application of principle to certain existing statutory provisions
157.Property rights
158.Repeal of Illegitimate Children (Affiliation Orders) Act (Northern Ireland) 1924
PART XV GUARDIANS
159.Appointment by court
160.Appointment by parent or guardian
161.Revocation of appointment by parent or guardian
162.Disclaimer of appointment by parent or guardian
163.Termination by court
PART XVI JURISDICTION AND PROCEDURE
164.Jurisdiction
165.Rules of court
166.Appeals
167.Attendance of child and his parents, etc., at hearing under Part V or VI
168.Power to clear court while child is giving evidence in certain proceedings
169.Evidence given by, or with respect to, children
170.Privacy for children involved in certain proceedings
171.Self-incrimination
172.Legal aid, advice and assistance
173.Restrictions on use of wardship jurisdiction
PART XVII MISCELLANEOUS AND GENERAL
Children accommodated in certain establishments
174.Children accommodated in hospitals
175.Children accommodated in certain homes and in private hospitals
176.Children accommodated in schools
177.Children not accommodated in schools
Search warrants
178.Police assistance in exercise of powers of search and inspection
Effect and duration of orders, etc.
179.Effect and duration of orders, etc.
180.The Isle of Man and the Channel Islands
Miscellaneous
181.Annual report
181A.Delegation of functions by Lord Chief Justice
182.Temporary exercise of functions of authorities by Department
183.Regulations and orders
184.Transitional provisions and savings
Article 185— Amendments and Repeals
SCHEDULES
SCHEDULE 1
FINANCIAL PROVISION FOR CHILDREN
Interpretation
1.(1) In this Schedule “child” includes, in any case where an application is made under...
Orders for financial relief against parents
2.(1) On an application made by a parent or guardian of a child, or by...
Orders for financial relief for persons over 18
3.(1) If, on an application by a person who has reached the age of 18,...
Duration of orders for financial relief
4.(1) The term to be specified in an order for periodical payments made under paragraph...
Matters to which court is to have regard in making orders for financial relief
This div-1 has a number but no title; creating a P1group with an empty Title
5.(1) In deciding whether to exercise its powers under paragraph 2 or 3, and if...
Provisions relating to lump sums
6.(1) Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph 2, an order under that paragraph for...
Variation, etc., of orders for periodical payments
7.(1) In exercising its powers under paragraph 2 or 3 to vary or discharge an...
Variation of orders for periodical payments etc. made by court of summary jurisdiction
8.(1) Subject to sub-paragraphs (7) and (8), the power of a court of summary jurisdiction—...
Variation of orders for secured periodical payments after death of parent
9.(1) Where the parent liable to make payments under a secured periodical payments order has...
Financial relief under other statutory provisions
10.(1) This paragraph applies where a residence order is made with respect to a child...
Interim orders
11.(1) Where an application is made under paragraph 2 or 3 the court may, at...
Alteration of maintenance agreements
This div-1 has a number but no title; creating a P1group with an empty Title
12.(1) In this paragraph and in paragraph 13 “maintenance agreement” means any agreement in writing...
13.(1) Where a maintenance agreement provides for the continuation, after the death of one of...
Notice of change of address
14.(1) Any person for the time being under an obligation to make payments in pursuance...
Direction for settlement of instrument by conveyancing counsel
15.Where the High Court or a county court decides to make an order under this...
Financial provision for child resident in country outside Northern Ireland
This div-1 has a number but no title; creating a P1group with an empty Title
16.(1) Where one parent of a child lives in Northern Ireland and the child lives...
Contribution by an authority to child's maintenance
17.(1) Where a child lives, or is to live, with a person as the result...
SCHEDULE 2
PROVISION OF SERVICES FOR FAMILIES: SPECIFIC POWERS AND DUTIES
Identification of children in need
1.Every authority shall take reasonable steps to identify the extent to which there are children...
Provision of information
2.(1) Every authority shall publish information— (a) about services provided by the authority under Articles...
Children's services plans
This div-1 has a number but no title; creating a P1group with an empty Title
2A.(1) Every Board shall, on or before 31st March 1999— (a) review the services provided...
Maintenance of register of disabled children
3.(1) Every authority shall open and maintain a register of disabled children within the authority's...
Assessment of children's needs
4.Where it appears to an authority that a child within the authority's area is in...
Prevention of neglect and abuse
5.(1) Every authority shall take reasonable steps, through the provision of services under Part IV,...
Provision of accommodation for another person to protect child
6.(1) Where— (a) it appears to an authority that a child who is living on...
Services for disabled children
7.Every authority shall provide services designed— (a) to minimise the effect on disabled children within...
Steps to reduce need for care proceedings, etc.
8.Every authority shall take reasonable steps designed— (a) to reduce the need to bring— (i)...
Provision for children living with their families
9.Every authority shall make such provision as the authority considers appropriate for the following services...
Family centres
10.(1) Every authority shall provide such family centres as the authority considers appropriate in relation...
Maintenance of the family home
11.Every authority shall take such steps as are reasonably practicable, where any child within the...
Duty to consider racial groups to which children in need belong
12.Every authority shall, in making any arrangements— (a) for the provision of day care within...
SCHEDULE 3
SUPERVISION ORDERS
Meaning of “responsible person”
1.In this Schedule, “the responsible person”, in relation to a supervised child, means— (a) any...
Power of supervisor to give directions to supervised child
2.(1) A supervision order may require the supervised child to comply with any directions given...
Imposition of obligations on responsible person
3.(1) With the consent of any responsible person, a supervision order may include a requirement—...
Psychiatric and medical examinations
4.(1) A supervision order may require the supervised child— (a) to submit to a medical...
Psychiatric and medical treatment
5.(1) Where a court which proposes to make or vary a supervision order is satisfied,...
Life of supervision order
6.(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2) and Article 179 (effect and duration of orders, etc. ),...
Information to be given to supervisor, etc.
7.(1) A supervision order may require the supervised child— (a) to keep the supervisor informed...
Selection of supervisor
8.A supervision order shall not designate an authority as the supervisor unless— (a) the authority...
Effect of supervision order on earlier orders
9.The making of a supervision order with respect to any child brings to an end...
Regulations
10.The Department may make regulations with respect to the exercise by an authority of its...
SCHEDULE 4
EDUCATION SUPERVISION ORDERS
Interpretation
1.In this Schedule— “1986 Order” means the Education and Libraries (Northern Ireland) Order 1986 “parent”...
Effect of orders
2.(1) Where an education supervision order is in force with respect to a child, it...
3.(1) Where an education supervision order is in force with respect to a child, the...
Effect where child also subject to other orders
4.(1) This paragraph applies where— (a) an education supervision order; and (b) a supervision order,...
Duration of orders
5.(1) An education supervision order shall have effect for a period of one year, beginning...
Information to be given to supervisor, etc.
6.(1) An education supervision order may require the child— (a) to keep the supervisor informed...
Discharge of orders
7.(1) The court may discharge any education supervision order on the application of— (a) the...
Offences
8.(1) If a parent of a child with respect to whom an education supervision order...
Persistent failure of child to comply with directions
9.(1) Where a child with respect to whom an education supervision order is in force...
SCHEDULE 5
FOSTER PARENTS: LIMITS ON NUMBER OF FOSTER CHILDREN
Interpretation
1.For the purposes of this Schedule, a person fosters a child if— (a) he is...
The usual fostering limit
2.Subject to what follows, a person shall not foster more than three children ( “the...
Siblings
3.A person may exceed the usual fostering limit if the children concerned are all siblings...
Exemption by an authority
4.(1) A person may exceed the usual fostering limit if he is exempted from it...
Effects of exceeding fostering limit
5.(1) A person shall cease to be treated for the purposes of this Order and...
Complaints, etc.
6.(1) Every authority shall establish a procedure for considering any representations (including any complaint) made...
SCHEDULE 6
PROPERTY RIGHTS WHERE PARENTS NOT MARRIED TO EACH OTHER
Succession on intestacy
This div-1 has a number but no title; creating a P1group with an empty Title
1.(1) In Part II of the Administration of Estates Act (Northern Ireland) 1955 (which deals...
Dispositions of property
2.(1) In the following dispositions, namely— (a) dispositions inter vivos made after the commencement of...
No special protection for trustees and personal representatives
3.Article 6 of the Family Law Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 1977 (which enables trustees and...
Entitlement to grant of probate, etc.
4.(1) For the purpose of determining the person or persons who would in accordance with...
SCHEDULE 7
JURISDICTION
Commencement of proceedings
1.(1) The Lord Chancellor may , after consultation with the Lord Chief Justice, by order...
Transfer of proceedings
2.(1) The Lord Chancellor may , after consultation with the Lord Chief Justice, by order...
Emergency protection orders
3.In such circumstances as the Lord Chancellor may , after consultation with the Lord Chief...
General
4.(1) For the purposes of this Schedule— (a) the commencement of proceedings under this Order...
SCHEDULE 8
Article 184(1). TRANSITIONALS AND SAVINGS Pending proceedings, etc. (1) (1) Subject to sub-paragraphs (2) and...
TRANSITIONALS AND SAVINGS
Pending proceedings, etc.
1.(1) Subject to sub-paragraphs (2) and (5), nothing in any provision of this Order (other...
2.Where, immediately before the commencement of Part V, there was in force an order under...
CUSTODY ORDERS, ETC.
Cessation of declarations of unfitness, etc.
3.Where, immediately before the commencement of Parts II and III , there was in force—...
Orders to which paragraphs 5 to 10 apply
4.(1) In paragraphs 5 to 10 “an existing order” means any order which— (a) is...
Parental responsibility of parents
5.(1) Where— (a) a child's father and mother were married to each other at the...
Persons who are not parents but who have custody or care and control
6.(1) Where a person who is not the parent or guardian of a child has...
Persons who have care and control
7.(1) Sub-paragraphs (2) to (6) apply where a person has care and control of a...
Persons who have access
8.(1) Sub-paragraphs (2) to (4) apply where a person has access by virtue of an...
Enforcement of certain existing orders
9.(1) Sub-paragraph (2) applies in relation to any existing order which, but for the repeal...
Discharge of existing orders
10.(1) The making of a residence order or care order with respect to a child...
CHILDREN IN CARE
Children in compulsory care
11.(1) Sub-paragraph (2) applies where, immediately before the commencement of Part V— (a) a person...
12.(1) This sub-paragraph applies to a child who has been placed or allowed to remain...
Cessation of wardship where child is in care
13.(1) Where a child who is a ward of court is in the care of...
Children placed with parent, etc., while in compulsory care
14.(1) This paragraph applies where a child is deemed by paragraph 11 to be in...
Children in voluntary care
15.(1) This paragraph applies where, immediately before the commencement of Part IV, a child— (a)...
Boarded out children
16.(1) Where, immediately before the commencement of Part IV, a child in the care of...
Children in care to qualify for advice and assistance
17.Any reference in Part IV to a person qualifying for advice and assistance shall be...
Emigration of children in care
18.Where the Head of the Department is considering whether to give his consent under section...
Contributions for maintenance of children in care
19.(1) Where, immediately before the commencement of Part IV, there was in force an order...
Supervision ordersOrders under the 1968 Act
20.(1) This paragraph applies to any supervision order made under the Children and Young Persons...
21.(1) This paragraph applies to any supervision order made under the Children and Young Persons...
Other supervision orders
22.(1) This paragraph applies to any order for the supervision of a child which was...
Place of safety orders
23.(1) This paragraph applies to— (a) any order or warrant authorising the taking or removal...
Voluntary homes
24.(1) This paragraph applies to a voluntary home which is registered in the register kept...
Foster children
25.(1) This paragraph applies where— (a) immediately before the commencement of Part IX, a person...
Child minders
26.(1) Sub-paragraph (2) applies where, immediately before the commencement of Part XI, any premises are...
Guardians
Existing guardians to be guardians under this Order
27.(1) Any appointment of a person as guardian for a child which— (a) was made—...
Appointment of guardian not yet in effect
28.Any appointment of a person to be a guardian of a child— (a) which was...
Children accommodated in certain establishments
29.In calculating, for the purposes of Article 174(1)(a) or (2)(a) or Article 175(1)(a) or 177(1)(a)...
Training school orders
30.(1) This paragraph applies where, immediately before the commencement of Part V, a person was...
MiscellaneousMarriage consents
31.(1) In the circumstances mentioned in sub-paragraph (2), section 1 of, and the Schedule to,...
Affiliation orders, etc.
32.(1) This paragraph applies to the following orders— (a) any affiliation order in force immediately...
Property rights where parents not married to each other
33.(1) In this paragraph “the 1977 Order” means the Family Law Reform (Northern Ireland) Order...
Attendance of child before court
34.Section 170 of the Children and Young Persons Act (Northern Ireland) 1968 (power to enforce...
Saving for certain amendments of 1968 Act
36.Notwithstanding the repeal by this Order of Part I of Schedule 16 to the Health...
Schedule 9—Amendments
Schedule 10—Repeals