Explanatory note

These Regulations provide for the review of the cases of children who are looked after by an authority or provided with accommodation by a voluntary organisation or in a registered children’s home.

The Regulations make provision for the review of such cases (regulation 2); the time when cases are to be reviewed (regulation 3); the manner in which cases are to be reviewed (regulation 4 and Schedule 1); the considerations to which there should be regard (regulation 5 and Schedules 2 and 3); health reviews (regulation 6); consultation and participation in reviews and notification of results of reviews (regulation 7); the arrangements for implementation of decisions arising out of reviews (regulation 8); monitoring the arrangements for reviews (regulation 9); recording review information (regulation 10); application of the Regulations to children accommodated for short periods (regulation 11); exceptions to the application of the Regulations (regulation 12) and transitional arrangements in relation to certain children accommodated before 4th November 1996 (regulation 13).

Articles 45(1) and (2), 75(4)(a) and (5) and 105(1) and (2)(l) of the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 are the enabling provisions under which these Regulations are made. They were brought into operation on 18th July 1996 by virtue of Article 2(1) of, and Schedule 1 to, the Children (1995 Order) (Commencement No. 3) Order (Northern Ireland) 1996 (S.R. 1996 No. 297 (C. 17)).