Frequency of visits
31.—(1) As part of its arrangements for supervising C’s well-being, the responsible authority must ensure that its representative (“R”) visits C in accordance with this regulation, wherever C is living.
(2) Subject to paragraphs (3) to (6), the responsible authority must ensure that R visits C—
(a)within one week of the start of any placement,
(b)at intervals of not more than 6 weeks for the first year of any placement, and
(c)thereafter—
(i)where the placement is intended to last until C is 18, at intervals of not more than 3 months, and
(ii)in any other case, at intervals of not more than 6 weeks.
(3) Where regulation 20 applies, the responsible authority must ensure that R visits C—
(a)at least once a week until the first review carried out in accordance with Part 6, and
(b)thereafter at intervals of not more than 6 weeks.
(4) Where regulation 26 applies, or where an interim care order has been made in relation to C under section 38 of the 1989 Act (interim orders) and C is living with P, the responsible authority must ensure that R visits C—
(a)at least once a week until the first review carried out in accordance with Part 6, and
(b)thereafter at intervals of not more than 4 weeks.
(5) Where a care order has been made in relation to C under section 31 of the 1989 Act (care and supervision orders) and C is living with P, the responsible authority must ensure that R visits C—
(a)within one week of the making of the care order, and
(b)thereafter at intervals of not more than 6 weeks.
(6) Where C is in the care of the responsible authority but another person is responsible for the arrangements under which C is living for the time being (“C’s living arrangements”), the responsible authority must ensure that R visits C—
(a)within one week of the start of C’s living arrangements and within one week of any change to C’s living arrangements,
(b)at intervals of not more than 6 weeks for the first year thereafter, and
(c)at intervals of not more than 3 months in any subsequent year.
(7) In addition to visits in accordance with paragraphs (2) to (6), the responsible authority must ensure that R visits C—
(a)whenever reasonably requested to do so by—
(i)C,
(ii)where paragraphs (2), (3) or (4) apply, the appropriate person, or
(iii)where paragraph (5) applies, the person responsible for C’s living arrangements,
(b)within one week of first receiving notification under section 30A(1) of the Care Standards Act 2000(2) (notification of matters relating to persons carrying on or managing certain establishments or agencies), where the children’s home in which C is placed for the time being is referred to in the notification.
Section 30A was inserted by section 29 of the 2008 Act.