15Care plans
(1)For section 31(3A) of the Children Act 1989 (no care order to be made until court has considered section 31A care plan) substitute—
“(3A)A court deciding whether to make a care order—
(a)is required to consider the permanence provisions of the section 31A plan for the child concerned, but
(b)is not required to consider the remainder of the section 31A plan, subject to section 34(11).
(3B)For the purposes of subsection (3A), the permanence provisions of a section 31A plan are such of the plan’s provisions setting out the long-term plan for the upbringing of the child concerned as provide for any of the following—
(a)the child to live with any parent of the child’s or with any other member of, or any friend of, the child’s family;
(b)adoption;
(c)long-term care not within paragraph (a) or (b).
(3C)The Secretary of State may by regulations amend this section for the purpose of altering what for the purposes of subsection (3A) are the permanence provisions of a section 31A plan.”
(2)In section 31A of the Children Act 1989 (care plans)—
(a)in subsection (1) (where application made for care order, care plan to be prepared within such time as the court may direct) for “the court may direct” substitute “may be prescribed”, and
(b)after subsection (4) insert—
“(4A)In this section “prescribed”—
(a)in relation to a care plan whose preparation is the responsibility of a local authority for an area in England, means prescribed by the Secretary of State; and
(b)in relation to a care plan whose preparation is the responsibility of a local authority in Wales, means prescribed by the Welsh Ministers.”
(3)In consequence of subsection (1), section 121(1) of the Adoption and Children Act 2002 is repealed.