Regulation 2 Interpretation

In these Regulations, unless the context otherwise requires—

• “the 1989 Act” means the Children Act 1989;

• “the 2000 Act” means the Care Standards Act 2000;

• “approval” means approval as a foster parent in accordance with regulation 28 and references to a person being approved shall be construed accordingly;

• “area authority” means the local authority in whose area a child is placed, in any case where that local authority is not the child’s responsible authority;

• “assessment” shall be construed in accordance with regulation 27(l);

• “child protection enquiries” has the meaning given to it by regulation 12(4);

• “children’s guide” means the written guide produced in accordance with regulation 3(3);

• “foster care agreement” has the meaning given to it by regulation 28(5)(b);

• “foster placement agreement” has the meaning given to it by regulation 34(3);

• “foster parent” means a person with whom a child is placed or may be placed under these Regulations, and except in Parts IV and V of these Regulations, includes any person who is not a foster parent but with whom a child is placed by a local authority under regulation 38(2);

• “fostering panel” means a panel established in accordance with regulation 24;

• “fostering service” means—

  1. (a)

     a fostering agency within the meaning of section 4(4) of the 2000 Act; or

  2. (b)

     a local authority fostering service;

• “fostering service provider” means—

  1. (a)

     in relation to a fostering agency, a registered person; or

  2. (b)

     in relation to a local authority fostering service, a local authority;

• “general practitioner” means a registered medical practitioner who—

  1. (a)

     provides general medical services under Part II of the National Health Service Act 1977^f1;

  2. (b)

     performs personal medical services in connection with a pilot scheme under the National Health Service (Primary Care) Act 1997^f2; or

  3. (c)

     provides services which correspond to services provided under Part II of the National Health Service Act 1977 otherwise than in pursuance of that Act;

• “independent fostering agency” means a fostering agency falling within section 4(4)(a) of the 2000 Act (discharging functions of local authorities in connection with the placing of children with foster parents);

• “local authority fostering service” means the discharge by a local authority of relevant fostering functions within the meaning of section 43(3)(b) of the 2000 Act;

• “organisation” means a body corporate or any unincorporated association other than a partnership;

• “parent” in relation to a child, includes any person who has parental responsibility for him;

• “placement” means any placement of a child made by—

  1. (a)

     a local authority under section 23(2)(a) of the 1989 Act or a voluntary organisation under section 59(1)(a) of the 1989 Act which is not—

     1. (i)

        a placement with a person who falls within section 23(4) of that Act; or

     2. (ii)

        a placement for adoption; and

  2. (b)

     except in Part V of these Regulations includes a placement arranged by an independent fostering agency acting on behalf of a local authority,

  and references to a child who is placed shall be construed accordingly;

• “registered manager” in relation to a fostering agency means a person who is registered under Part II of the 2000 Act as the manager of the fostering agency;

• “registered person” in relation to a fostering agency means any person who is the registered provider or the registered manager of the fostering agency;

• “registered provider” in relation to a fostering agency means a person who is registered under Part II of the 2000 Act as the person carrying on the fostering agency^f3;

• “responsible authority” means, in relation to a child, the local authority or voluntary organisation as the case may be, responsible for the child’s placement;

• “responsible individual” shall be construed in accordance with regulation 5(2)(c)(i);

• “statement of purpose” means the written statement compiled in accordance with regulation 3(1).

In these Regulations, a reference—

In these Regulations, references to employing a person include employing a person whether or not for payment, and whether under a contract of service or a contract for services, and allowing a person to work as a volunteer, but do not include allowing a person to act as a foster parent, and references to an employee or to a person being employed shall be construed accordingly.