The revised legal framework
This framework covers all aspects of a child’s journey through care, including health, education and ensuring the child’s voice is heard in the care process. The framework also includes regulations and guidance relevant to children’s homes and fostering services providers. These regulations and guidance are designed to work together as a coherent whole, helping give local authorities the tools to ensure high quality care for all their looked after children.
Below are links to the relevant guidance and regulations within the revised legal framework. More detailed information can be found within the individual pages of this section.
Child at the Centre
- Volume 2: Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) Regulations 2010 and statutory guidance
- Statutory guidance on securing sufficient accommodation for looked after children
Care Leavers
Education and health
- Promoting the health and well being of looked after children
- Improving the educational attainment of children in care (looked after children)
- The role and responsibilities of the designated teacher for looked after children: Statutory guidance for school governing bodies
Voice of the child
- Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO) handbook
- Statutory guidance on the roles and responsibilities of the Director of Children's Services and the lead member for children's services
- Providing Effective Advocacy Services for Children and Young People Making a Complaint under the Children Act 1989
Placements
[Care Standards Act 2000]
- Volume 4: Fostering Services 2011 - Statutory Guidance on the Fostering Services (England) Regulations 2011
- Volume 5: Children’s Homes 2011 – Statutory Guidance on the Children’s Homes Regulations 2001 (amended)
- The Children's Homes Regulations 2001 (amended)
- Notification, registration
- National Minimum Standards for Fostering Services
- National Minimum Standards For Children's Homes
Related duties for vulnerable children
- Short Breaks: Statutory Guidance on How to Safeguard and Promote the Welfare of Disabled Children Using Short Breaks
- Local authority responsibilities towards former looked after children in custody – Statutory guidance on the Visits to Former Looked After Children in Detention (England) Regulations 2010
- Provision of accommodation for 16- and 17-year-old young people who may be homeless and/or require accommodation
- Children in long term residential care
- Family and Friends Guidance: Statutory guidance for local authorities
- The Arrangements for Placement of Children by Voluntary Organisations (England) Regulations 2011
Legal underpinnings
- Children Act 1989
- International obligations
