The Arrangements for Placement of Children by Voluntary Organisations and Others (England) Regulations 2011

PART 4 Other Duties

Termination of placements

14.—(1) A voluntary organisation must not allow a placement to continue if it appears to them that the placement is no longer the most suitable way of performing their duty under section 61(1)(a) and (b) of the 1989 Act.

(2) Where it appears to the local authority within whose area the child is placed, that there is a risk of immediate significant harm to the child, the local authority must remove the child immediately.

(3) A local authority which remove a child under paragraph (2) must notify, as soon as reasonably practicable, the responsible authority and any persons specified under regulation 7(1) whom they consider should be notified.

Placements outside England

15.  A voluntary organisation must not place a child outside the British Islands.

Local authority visits to children

16.—(1) Every local authority must arrange for an officer of the local authority to visit every child who is placed within their area as follows—

(a) subject to regulation 28, within 28 days of the start of the placement,

(b) within 14 days of receipt of a request from the responsible authority, and

(c) as soon as reasonably practicable if, having received—

(i) the child’s placement plan under regulation 7(3),

(ii) the results of the review under regulation 23(3)(b), or

(iii) any other information,

they consider that the child’s welfare is not being adequately safeguarded or promoted.

(2) Every local authority must ensure that a person carrying out a visit in accordance with paragraph (1)—

(a) sees the child in private during the course of the visit unless—

(i) the child, being of sufficient age and understanding to do so, refuses,

(ii) the person carrying out the visit considers it inappropriate to do so, having regard to the child’s age and understanding, or

(iii) the person carrying out the visit is unable to do so, and

(b) takes steps to discover whether the responsible authority have made suitable arrangements to perform their duties under these Regulations, and those under sections 61 and 64 of the 1989 Act.

(3) A local authority must report to Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills any concerns they may have about the responsible authority.