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Children Act 1989

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[F1 80 Inspection of children’s homes etc. by persons authorised by [F2the Appropriate National Authority]. E+W

(1)The [F3Appropriate National Authority] may cause to be inspected from time to time any—

(a)[F4private] children’s home [F5in England];

(b)premises in which a child who is being looked after by a local authority is living;

(c)premises in which a child who is being accommodated by or on behalf of a [F6local authority in the exercise of education functions or a] voluntary organisation is living;

(d) premises in which a child who is being accommodated by or on behalf of a [F7[F8 Local Health Board], Special Health Authority] F9... [F10, National Health Service trust or NHS foundation trust [F11or pursuant to arrangements made by the [F3Appropriate National Authority], [F12NHS England] or [F13an integrated care board] under the National Health Service Act 2006]] is living;

F14(e) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F14(f) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(g)premises in which a privately fostered child, or child who is treated as a foster child by virtue of paragraph 9 of Schedule 8, is living or in which it is proposed that he will live;

(h)premises on which any person is acting as a child minder;

F15(i). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F16(j)care home [F17in England] or independent hospital used to accommodate children;]

(k)premises which are provided by a local authority and in which any service is provided by that authority under Part III;

(l)[F18school or college] providing accommodation for any child;

(2)An inspection under this section shall be conducted by a person authorised to do so by the [F19Appropriate National Authority].

(3)An officer of a local authority shall not be so authorised except with the consent of that authority.

(4)The [F20Appropriate National Authority] may require any person of a kind mentioned in subsection (5) to furnish [F21it] with such information, or allow [F21it] to inspect such records (in whatever form they are held), relating to—

(a)any premises to which subsection (1) or, in relation to Scotland, subsection (1)(h) or (i) applies;

(b)any child who is living in any such premises;

(c)the discharge by the [F20Appropriate National Authority] of any of [F22its] functions under this Act; [F23or]

(d)the discharge by any local authority of any of their functions under this Act,

as the [F20Appropriate National Authority] may at any time direct.

(5)The persons are any—

(a)local authority;

(b)voluntary organisation;

(c)person carrying on a [F4private] children’s home [F24in England];

(d)proprietor of an independent school [F25or governing body of any other school];

[F26(da) governing body of an institution designated under section 28 of the M1 Further and Higher Education Act 1992;

(db)further education corporation;]

[F27(dc)sixth form college corporation;]

[F28(dd)proprietor of a 16 to 19 Academy;]

(e) person fostering any privately fostered child or providing accommodation for a child on behalf of a local authority, F29... [F30[F8 Local Health Board], Special Health Authority] F31... [F32 National Health Service trust] [F33, NHS foundation trust] or voluntary organisation;

[F34(ea)person providing accommodation for a child pursuant to arrangements made by the Secretary of State, [F12NHS England] or [F35an integrated care board] under the National Health Service Act 2006;]

(f)F36 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(g) person employed in a teaching or administrative capacity at any educational establishment (whether or not maintained by [F37 a local authority]) at which a child is accommodated on behalf of a local authority F38 . . . ;

F39(h). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F39(hh). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(i)person carrying on any home of a kind mentioned in subsection (1)(j).

[F40(j)person carrying on a fostering agency.]

(6)Any person inspecting any home or other premises under this section may—

(a)inspect the children there; and

(b)make such examination into the state and management of the home or premises and the treatment of the children there as he thinks fit.

(7)Any person authorised by the [F41Appropriate National Authority] to exercise the power to inspect records conferred by subsection (4)—

(a)shall be entitled at any reasonable time to have access to, and inspect and check the operation of, any computer and any associated apparatus or material which is or has been in use in connection with the records in question; and

(b)may require—

(i)the person by whom or on whose behalf the computer is or has been so used; or

(ii)any person having charge of, or otherwise concerned with the operation of, the computer, apparatus or material,

to afford him such reasonable assistance as he may require.

(8)A person authorised to inspect any premises under this section shall have a right to enter the premises for that purpose, and for any purpose specified in subsection (4), at any reasonable time.

(9)Any person exercising that power shall, if so required, produce some duly authenticated document showing his authority to do so.

(10)Any person who intentionally obstructs another in the exercise of that power shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

(11)The [F42Appropriate National Authority] may by order provide for subsections (1), (4) and (6) not to apply in relation to such homes, or other premises, as may be specified in the order.

[F43(11A)But subsections (1), (4) and (6) do not apply if—

(a)the Appropriate National Authority is the Welsh Ministers; and

(b)the inspection relates to a private children’s home or a care home (see, instead the Regulation and Inspection of Social Care (Wales) Act 2016 (anaw 2)).]

(12)Without prejudice to section 104, any such order may make different provision with respect to each of those subsections.

[F44(13)In this section—

  • “college” means an institution within the further education sector as defined in section 91 of the M2 Further and Higher Education Act 1992 [F45 or a 16 to 19 Academy];

  • “fostering agency” has the same meaning as in the Care Standards Act 2000;

  • “further education corporation” has the same meaning as in the M3 Further and Higher Education Act 1992.

  • [F46 “sixth form college corporation” has the same meaning as in that Act.]

  • [F47 “proprietor” has the same meaning as in the Education Act 1996.]]

[F48(14)In this section “Appropriate National Authority” means—

(a)in relation to England, the Secretary of State; and

(b)in relation to Wales, the Welsh Ministers.]]

Textual Amendments

F1S. 80 repealed (S.) (1.4.2002) by 2001 asp 8, ss. 80(1), 81(2), Sch. 4; S.S.I. 2002/162, art. 2(g)(i) (subject to arts. 3-13)

F4Word in s. 80(1)(a)(5)(c) inserted (1.4.2002) by 2000 c. 14, s. 116, Sch. 4 para. 14(16)(a); S.I. 2001/4150, art. 3(3)(a) (subject to transitional provision in art. 4 of the commencing S.I. and to the amendment of art. 3 by S.I. 2002/1493, art. 6); S.I. 2002/920, art. 3(3)(d) (with art. 3(4)-(10) and transitional provisions in Schs. 1-3)

F7Words in s. 80(1)(d), substituted (1.4.1996) by 1995 c. 17, s. 2(1)(3), Sch. 1 Pt. III, para. 118(8)(a)(with Sch. 2 para. 6)

F8Words in s. 80(1)(d)(5)(e) substituted (1.4.2007) by The References to Health Authorities Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/961), arts. 2, 3 {Sch. para. 20(2)(g)}

F9Words in s. 80(1)(d) omitted (1.4.2013) by virtue of Health and Social Care Act 2012 (c. 7), s. 306(4), Sch. 5 para. 54(a)(i); S.I. 2013/160, art. 2(2) (with arts. 7-9)

F15S. 80(1)(i) repealed (W.) (1.4.2011) by Children and Families (Wales) Measure 2010 (nawm 1), ss. 72, 75, Sch. 1 para. 6(a), Sch. 2; S.I. 2010/2582, art. 2, Sch. 1 (subject to arts. 3, 4, 5) (as amended by S.I. 2011/577, art. 2)

F16S. 80(1)(j) substituted (1.4.2002) by 2000 c. 14, ss. 116, 122, Sch. 4 para. 14(16)(c); S.I. 2001/4150, art. 3(3)(a) (subject to transitional provision in art. 4 of the commencing S.I. and to the amendment of art. 3 by S.I. 2002/1493, art. 6); S.I. 2002/920, art. 3(3)(d) (with art. 3(4)-(10) and transitional provisions in Schs. 1-3)

F18Words in s. 80(1)(l) substituted (1.4.2002 (E.) otherwise prosp.) by 2000 c. 14, ss. 109(2), 122; S.I. 2001/3852, art. 3(7)(h) (subject to transitional provision in Sch. 1 of the commencing S.I.(as amended by S.I. 2001/4150, art. 5; S.I. 2002/1493, art. 5; S.I. 2002/1790, art. 2; S.I. 2002/2001, arts. 2, 3; S.I. 2002/3210, art. 2 (with art. 4); S.I. 2005/3397, art. 2)

F23Word in s. 80(4)(c) repealed (1.4.2002) by 2000 c. 14, s. 117(2), Sch. 6; S.I. 2001/4150, art. 3(3)(c)(viii) (subject to transitional provision in art. 4 of the commencing S.I. and to the amendment of art. 3 by S.I. 2002/1493, art. 6); S.I. 2002/920, art. 3(3)(g) (with art. 3(5)-(10) and transitional provisions in Schs. 1-3)

F25Words in s. 80(5)(d) inserted (1.4.2002 (E.) otherwise prosp.) by 2000 c. 14, ss. 109(3)(a), 122; S.I. 2001/3852, art. 3(7)(h) (subject to transitional provision in Sch. 1 of the commencing S.I.(as amended by S.I. 2001/4150, art. 5; S.I. 2002/1493, art. 5; S.I. 2002/1790, art. 2; S.I. 2002/2001, arts. 2, 3; S.I. 2002/3210, art. 2 (with art. 4); S.I. 2005/3397, art. 2))

F26S. 80(5)(da)(db) inserted (1.4.2002 (E.) otherwise prosp.) by 2000 c. 14, ss. 109(3)(b), 122; S.I. 2001/3852, art. 3(7)(h) (subject to transitional provision in Sch. 1 of the commencing S.I.(as amended by S.I. 2001/4150, art. 5; S.I. 2002/1493, art. 5; S.I. 2002/1790, art. 2; S.I. 2002/2001, arts. 2, 3; S.I. 2002/3210, art. 2 (with art. 4); S.I. 2005/3397, art. 2))

F30Words in s. 80(5)(e) substituted (1.4.1996) by 1995 c. 17, s. 2(1)(3), Sch. 1 Pt. III, para. 118(8)(b)(with Sch. 2, para. 6)

F31Words in s. 80(5)(e) omitted (1.4.2013) by virtue of Health and Social Care Act 2012 (c. 7), s. 306(4), Sch. 5 para. 54(b); S.I. 2013/160, art. 2(2) (with arts. 7-9)

F39S. 80(5)(h)(hh) repealed (W.) (1.4.2011) by Children and Families (Wales) Measure 2010 (nawm 1), ss. 72, 75, Sch. 1 para. 6(b), Sch. 2; S.I. 2010/2582, art. 2, Sch. 1 (subject to arts. 3, 4, 5) (as amended by S.I. 2011/577, art. 2)

F40S. 80(5)(j) inserted (1.4.2002 (E.) otherwise prosp.) by 2000 c. 14, ss. 109(3)(c), 122; S.I. 2001/3852, art. 3(7)(h) (subject to transitional provision in Sch. 1 of the commencing S.I.(as amended by as amended by S.I. 2001/4150, art. 5; S.I. 2002/1493, art. 5; S.I. 2002/1790, art. 2; S.I. 2002/2001, arts. 2, 3; S.I. 2002/3210, art. 2 (with art. 4); S.I. 2005/3397, art. 2))

F44S. 80(13) inserted (1.4.2002 (E.) otherwise prosp.) by 2000 c. 14, ss. 109(4), 122; S.I. 2001/3852, art. 3(7)(h) (subject to transitional provision in Sch. 1 of the commencing S.I.(as amended by S.I. 2001/4150, art. 5; S.I. 2002/1493, art. 5; S.I. 2002/1790, art. 2; S.I. 2002/2001, arts. 2, 3; S.I. 2002/3210, art. 2 (with art. 4); S.I. 2005/3397, art. 2))

Commencement Information

I1S. 80 wholly in force at 14.10.1991 see s. 108(2)(3) see S.I. 1991/828, art. 3(2)

Marginal Citations

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