{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/children-act-1989/section-27",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/children-act-1989/section-27.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/1989/41",
  "legislation_title": "Children Act 1989",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/children-act-1989",
  "path": "section/27",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "27",
  "heading": "Co-operation between authorities.",
  "text": "(1) Where it appears to a local authority that any authority ... mentioned in subsection (3) could, by taking any specified action, help in the exercise of any of their functions under this Part, they may request the help of that other authority ... specifying the action in question.\n(2) An authority whose help is so requested shall comply with the request if it is compatible with their own statutory or other duties and obligations and does not unduly prejudice the discharge of any of their functions.\n(3) The authorities are—\n(a) any local authority;\n(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n(c) any local housing authority;\n(ca) NHS England;\n(d) any integrated care board, Local Health Board, Special Health Authority ... , National Health Service trust or NHS foundation trust;\n(da) any local authority in Wales; and\n(e) any person authorised by the Secretary of State for the purposes of this section.\n(3A) The Secretary of State must not authorise the Welsh Ministers under subsection (3)(e) without their consent.\n(4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .",
  "extent": "E+W",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Ss. 25A, 25B and cross-heading inserted (1.9.2009 for certain purposes for E., 26.4.2010 for certain purposes for W., and and 1.4.2011 otherwise for E.) by Children and Young Persons Act 2008 (c. 23), ss. 10(1), 44; S.I. 2009/2273, art. 2(2)(c); S.I. 2010/1329, art. 2(c); S.I. 2010/2981, art. 4(c) (with art. 5)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Words in s. 27(1) repealed (14.10.1991) by Courts and Legal Services Act 1990 (c. 41, SIF 76:1), ss. 116, 125(7), Sch. 16 para. 14(a), Sch. 20; S.I. 1991/1883, art. 3, Sch."
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Word in s. 27(3) substituted (14.10.1991) by Courts and Legal Services Act 1990 (c. 41, SIF 76:1), s. 116, Sch. 16 para. 14(b); S.I. 1991/1883, art. 3, Sch."
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "Words in s. 27(3)(b) repealed (5.5.2010) by The Local Education Authorities and Children's Services Authorities (Integration of Functions) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/1158), arts. 1, 5(1)(2), Sch. 2 para. 37(4), Sch. 3 Pt. 2"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F5",
      "text": "S. 27(3)(ca) inserted (1.4.2013) by Health and Social Care Act 2012 (c. 7), s. 306(4), Sch. 5 para. 51(a); S.I. 2013/160, art. 2(2) (with arts. 7-9)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F6",
      "text": "Words in s. 27 substituted (1.7.2022) by Health and Care Act 2022 (c. 31), s. 186(6), Sch. 1 para. 1(1)(2); S.I. 2022/734, reg. 2(a), Sch. (with regs. 13, 29, 30)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F7",
      "text": "Words in s. 27(3)(d) substituted (1.7.2022) by Health and Care Act 2022 (c. 31), s. 186(6), Sch. 4 para. 31; S.I. 2022/734, reg. 2(a), Sch. (with regs. 13, 29, 30)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F8",
      "text": "Words in s. 27(3)(d) substituted (1.4.1996) by 1995 c. 17, ss. 1(2), 2(1)(3), Sch. 1, Pt. III, para. 118(5)(with Sch. 2, para. 6)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F9",
      "text": "Words in s. 27(3)(d) substituted (1.4.2007) by The References to Health Authorities Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/961), arts. 2, 3 {Sch. para. 20(2)(d)}"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F10",
      "text": "Words in s. 27(3)(d) omitted (1.4.2013) by virtue of Health and Social Care Act 2012 (c. 7), s. 306(4), Sch. 5 para. 51(b)(ii); S.I. 2013/160, art. 2(2) (with arts. 7-9)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F11",
      "text": "Words in s. 27(3)(d) substituted (1.4.2004) by Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003 (c. 43), s. 34, Sch. 4 para. 78; S.I. 2004/759, art. 2"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F12",
      "text": "S. 27(3)(da) inserted (6.4.2016) by The Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/413), regs. 2(1), 93(a)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F13",
      "text": "Words in s. 27(3)(e) substituted (6.4.2016) by The Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/413), regs. 2(1), 93(b)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F14",
      "text": "S. 27(3A) inserted (6.4.2016) by The Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/413), regs. 2(1), 93(c)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F15",
      "text": "S. 27(4) repealed (1.9.1994) by 1993 c. 35, s. 307(1)(3), Sch. 19 para. 147, Sch. 21 Pt. II; S.I. 1994/2038, art. 3, Sch. 2, Appendix"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I1",
      "text": "S. 27 in force at 14.10.1991, see s. 108(2)(3) and S.I. 1991/828, art. 3(2)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1989/41/section/27",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-30T07:28:21.051680+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}