The Integrated Family Support Teams (Review of Cases) (Wales) Regulations 2012

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations establish requirements about how local authorities must review the cases of the families who are supported by Integrated Family Support (“IFS”) teams. The requirements for a local authority to review a case do not apply in relation to a child whose case is already subject to review under the Review of Children’s Cases (Wales) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/307 (W.26)) (“the Review Regulations”) by virtue of being “looked after” as defined in section 22(1) of the Children Act 1989.

Section 57 of the Children and Families (Wales) Measure 2010 imposes a duty on local authorities to establish one or more IFS teams. These Regulations apply to local authority areas in relation to which section 57 has been commenced and which have a duty to establish an IFS team. On the date these Regulations are brought onto force section 57 is in force in relation to the following local authority areas: Merthyr Tydfil, Newport, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Wrexham, Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan (see the Children and Families (Wales) Measure 2010 (Commencement) Order 2010 and the Children and Families (Wales) Measure 2010 (Commencement No. 4) Order 2012).

Regulation 2 requires a local authority to review the cases of families whose cases are supported by an IFS team but excepts cases of looked after children.

Regulation 3 sets out when a case must first be reviewed and at what intervals subsequent reviews must take place. Regulation 4 requires a local authority to set out in writing its arrangements for reviewing cases and requires that the local authority coordinates the review. The matters to be dealt with in the review are dealt with in Schedule 1.

Regulation 5 and Schedule 2 set out all the matters that a local authority must take into account in reviewing cases. Regulation 6 sets out the requirements about who must be consulted before a review, who must participate in it and who should be notified afterwards.

Regulation 7 creates a duty for a local authority to implement the decisions taken at a review. Regulation 8 requires that information provided for a review, together with minutes, and any decisions of a review, are recorded in writing.

Regulation 9 revokes regulations 1 to 8 of the Integrated Family Support Teams (Review of Cases) (Wales) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/1700 (W.161)) (“the 2010 Regulations”). Regulation 9 of the 2010 Regulations, which makes amendments to the Review Regulations, is preserved. The amendments originally applied to the following local authority areas: Merthyr Tydfil, Newport, Rhondda Cynon Taff and Wrexham. Regulation 9(2) of these Regulations provides that the amendments made by the 2010 Regulations apply to the remaining parts of Wales.

The Welsh Ministers' Code of Practice on the carrying out of Regulatory Impact Assessments was considered in relation to these Regulations. As a result, a regulatory impact assessment has been prepared as to the likely costs and benefits of complying with these Regulations. A copy can be obtained from the Directorate of Health, Social Services and Children, Welsh Government, Cathays Park, Cardiff, CF10 3NQ.