Children and Families Act 2014

80Parents and young people lacking capacity

This section has no associated Explanatory Notes

(1)Regulations may apply any statutory provision with modifications, for the purpose of giving effect to this Part in a case where the parent of a child, or a young person, lacks capacity at the relevant time.

(2)Regulations under subsection (1) may in particular include provision for—

(a)references to a child’s parent to be read as references to, or as including references to, a representative of the parent;

(b)references to a young person to be read as references to, or as including references to, a representative of the young person, the young person’s parent, or a representative of the young person’s parent;

(c)modifications to have effect in spite of section 27(1)(g) of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (Act does not permit decisions on discharging parental responsibilities in matters not relating to a child’s property to be made on a person’s behalf).

(3)“Statutory provision” means a provision made by or under this or any other Act, whenever passed or made.

(4)“The relevant time” means the time at which, under the statutory provision in question, something is required or permitted to be done by or in relation to the parent or young person.

(5)The reference in subsection (1) to lacking capacity is to lacking capacity within the meaning of the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

(6)“Representative”, in relation to a parent or young person, means—

(a)a deputy appointed by the Court of Protection under section 16(2)(b) of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 to make decisions on the parent’s or young person’s behalf in relation to matters within this Part;

(b)the donee of a lasting power of attorney (within the meaning of section 9 of that Act) appointed by the parent or young person to make decisions on his or her behalf in relation to matters within this Part;

(c)an attorney in whom an enduring power of attorney (within the meaning of Schedule 4 to that Act) created by the parent or young person is vested, where the power of attorney is registered in accordance with paragraphs 4 and 13 of that Schedule or an application for registration of the power of attorney has been made.