Search Legislation

Advanced Search

Children and Families Act 2014

Section 2: Placement of looked after children with prospective adopters

53.This section amends section 22C of the Children Act 1989 as it applies in relation to England. New subsection (9A) imposes a duty on a local authority looking after a child, when they are considering adoption for the child, or are satisfied that the child ought to be placed for adoption but are not authorised to place that child for adoption, to consider placing the child in a “Fostering for Adoption” placement.

54.A “Fostering for Adoption” placement is a foster placement with foster parents who are also approved prospective adopters, in circumstances where the local authority are considering adoption as an option for the child’s long term care (whether it is the only option they are considering, or one of several) or are satisfied that the child ought to be placed for adoption but do not yet have authorisation to place the child for adoption. In these circumstances the local authority will be under a duty to consider a “Fostering for Adoption” placement. Section 22C(5) of the Act will apply, and requires the local authority to place the child in “the most appropriate placement available”, and section 22 of the Act will apply in relation to the decision about which placement is most appropriate, and will require the authority to act in the child’s best interests. The local authority must first have considered placing the child with relatives, friends or other connected persons and have ruled them out as not being the most appropriate potential carers for the child.

Back to top

Options/Help

Print Options

Close

Explanatory Notes

Text created by the government department responsible for the subject matter of the Act to explain what the Act sets out to achieve and to make the Act accessible to readers who are not legally qualified. Explanatory Notes were introduced in 1999 and accompany all Public Acts except Appropriation, Consolidated Fund, Finance and Consolidation Acts.

Close

More Resources

Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • correction slips
  • links to related legislation and further information resources
Close

Impact Assessments

Impact Assessments generally accompany all UK Government interventions of a regulatory nature that affect the private sector, civil society organisations and public services. They apply regardless of whether the regulation originates from a domestic or international source and can accompany primary (Acts etc) and secondary legislation (SIs). An Impact Assessment allows those with an interest in the policy area to understand:

  • Why the government is proposing to intervene;
  • The main options the government is considering, and which one is preferred;
  • How and to what extent new policies may impact on them; and,
  • The estimated costs and benefits of proposed measures.