The Care Leavers (Wales) Regulations 2015

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations are made under the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 (“the Act”) and they come into force on 1 April 2016. They revoke, and in part, replace, the Children (Leaving Care) (Wales) Regulations 2001.

The Regulations make provision about the support to be provided to certain young persons who are no longer looked after by a local authority, that is, category 2 young persons (as defined by section 104(2) of the Act and regulation 3) and to category 3 and category 4 young persons (as defined in section 104(2) of the Act).

They re-enact (with some changes) provisions in the 2001 Regulations (other than those relating to young persons who are referred to in those Regulations as “eligible” children, who are now defined as category 1 young persons in accordance with section 104(2) of the Act, which are now contained in the Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (Wales) Regulations 2015).

These Regulations make provision about the way in which the responsible local authority must carry out an assessment of the needs of category 2, category 3 and category 4 young persons (regulation 5) and about the preparation and review of pathway plans, which are plans setting out the advice and other support the responsible local authority, and where appropriate other persons, intend to provide (regulations 6, 7 and Schedules 1 and 2).

They prescribe the functions of personal advisers appointed for category 2, category 3 and category 4 young persons (regulation 8) and make provision about other support and the suitability of accommodation (regulation 9 and Schedule 3). They provide for the establishment and keeping of records in relation to assessments and pathway plans (regulation 10).

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 Department for Health and Social Services, Welsh Government, Cathays Park, Cardiff, CF10 3NQ.