OpenLegislation

Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968

1968 c. 49 · Enacted 26 July 1968 · Extends to United Kingdom

Not fully up to date. 10 changes made by later legislation have not yet been written into this text, which is revised to 7 January 2026.

See the changes not yet applied
ProvisionChangeMade by
s. 87AinsertedAdult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007 s. 66
s. 27(2)words substitutedCriminal Proceedings etc. (Reform) (Scotland) Act 2007 Sch. para. 3(b)
s. 87(1)words insertedCare Reform (Scotland) Act 2025 s. 8(15)(a)
s. 87(1A)(a)words insertedCare Reform (Scotland) Act 2025 s. 8(15)(b)
s. 4words insertedChildren (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Act 2026 s. 17(5)
s. 4words insertedChildren (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Act 2026 s. 7(2)
s. 12(2B)substitutedNationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 s. 46(1)
s. 13A(5)substitutedNationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 s. 46(2)
s. 13B(4)substitutedNationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 s. 46(3)
s. 78(2A)words repealedWelfare Reform Act 2012 Sch. 14 Pt. 1

An Act to make further provision for promoting social welfare in Scotland; to consolidate with amendments certain enactments relating to the care and protection of children; to amend the law relating to the supervision and care of persons put on probation or released from prison etc.; to restrict the prosecution of children for offences; to establish children’s panels to provide children’s hearings in the case of children requiring compulsory measures of care; and for purposes connected with the aforesaid matters.

[26th July 1968]C1C2C3C4C5C6C7C8C9

Annotations to the whole text

Modifications

C1

Act modified (1.6.1996) by Armed Forces Act 1991 (c. 62, SIF 7:1), s. 21(4)(b); S.I. 1996/1173, art. 2

Act: certain functions transferred (1.4.1996) by 1994 c. 39, s. 127(1) (with s. 128); S.I. 1996/323, art. 4(1)(a), Sch. 1

C2

By Criminal Justice Act 1991 (c. 53, SIF 39:1), S. 101(1), Sch. 12 para. 23; S.I. 1991/2208, art. 2(1), Sch.1 it is provided (14.10.1991) that in relation to any time before the commencement of s. 70 of that 1991 Act (which came into force on 1.10.1992 by S.I. 1992/333, art. 2(2), Sch. 2) references in any enactment amended by that 1991 Act, to youth courts shall be construed as references to juvenile courts.

C3

Act: power to modify conferred (12.12.1996 for certain purposes and otherwise 1.4.1997) by 1995 c. 36, s. 33(5)(a) (with ss. 99, 103(1)); S.I. 1996/3201, art. 3(1)(7) (which art. 3(7) was substituted (7.3.1997) by S.I. 1997/744, art. 2 (with transitional provisions inserted into S.I. 1996/3201 by art. 3))

Act: power to modify conferred (S.) (prosp.) by Community Care and Health (Scotland) Act 2002 (asp 5), ss. {5(2)}, 27(2)

C4

Act applied (with modifications) (1.10.2010) by The Employment and Support Allowance (Transitional Provisions, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit) (Existing Awards) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/875), regs. 1(2), 16, Sch. 2 (which amending S.I. was revoked (27.8.2010) by SI 2010/1906, reg. 2)

C5

Act applied (with modifications) (1.10.2010) by The Employment and Support Allowance (Transitional Provisions, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit) (Existing Awards) (No. 2) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/1907), reg. 16(2)(c), Sch. 2

C6

Act: power to modify conferred (24.6.2013) by Children’s Hearings (Scotland) Act 2011 (asp 1), ss. 190(2)(b)(i), 206(2) (with s. 186); S.S.I. 2013/195, arts. 2, 3

C7

Act: power to modify conferred (11.5.2015) by Community Care and Health (Scotland) Act 2002 (asp 5), ss. 5(2), 27(2); S.S.I. 2015/179, art. 2(1)

C8

Act: power to modify conferred (1.9.2025) by 2011 asp 1, s. 190(2A) (as substituted by Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Act 2024 (asp 5), ss. 29(2)(b), 38(3); S.S.I. 2025/115, reg. 2(2)(c))

C9

Act: power to modify conferred (1.9.2025) by 1995 c. 36, s. 33A (as inserted by Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Act 2024 (asp 5), ss. 30(2), 38(3); S.S.I. 2025/115, reg. 2(2)(d))

Contents

  1. Part I: Administration
  2. Performance of their duties by local authorities
  3. 1Local authorities for the administration of the Act.
  4. 2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  5. 3Chief social work officer.
  6. 4Provisions relating to performance of functions by local authorities.
  7. Central Authority
  8. 5Powers of Secretary of State.
  9. 5ZANational Chief Social Work Adviser and National Social Work Agency
  10. 5ALocal authority plans for community care services. Repealed
  11. 5BComplaints procedure. Repealed
  12. 6Supervision of establishments providing accommodation for persons and inspection of records etc. Repealed
  13. 6AInquiries.
  14. 6BLocal authority inquiries into matters affecting children.
  15. 7. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  16. Research, training courses and financial and other assistance
  17. 8Research.
  18. 9Training courses and grants for training in social work.
  19. 10Financial and other assistance to voluntary organisations etc., for social work.
  20. Acquisition of land
  21. 11Acquisition of land.
  22. Part II: Promotion of Social Welfare by Local Authorities
  23. General
  24. 12General social welfare services of local authorities.
  25. 12ADuty of local authority to assess needs.
  26. 12AZAAssessments under section 12A: assistance
  27. 12AAAssessment of ability to provide care Repealed
  28. 12ABDuty of local authority to provide information to carer Repealed
  29. 12BDirect payments in respect of community care services. Repealed
  30. 12CFurther provisions relating to direct payments. Repealed
  31. 13Power of local authorities to assist persons in need in disposal of produce of their work.
  32. 13ZAProvision of services to incapable adults
  33. Residential accommodation with nursing.
  34. 13AResidential accommodation with nursing.
  35. Provision of care and after-care
  36. 13BProvision of care and after-care
  37. Home help
  38. 14Home help and laundry facilities.
  39. Special provisions as to the care of children in need
  40. 15. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  41. 16. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  42. 16A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  43. 17. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  44. 17A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  45. 17B. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  46. 17C. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  47. 17D. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  48. 17E. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  49. 18. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  50. 18A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  51. 19. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  52. 20. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  53. 20A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  54. 21. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  55. 22. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  56. 23. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  57. 24. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  58. 25. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  59. 25A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  60. 26. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  61. Supervision and care of persons put on probation or released from prisons etc.
  62. 27Supervision and care of persons put on probation or released from prisons etc.
  63. 27ZAAdvice, guidance and assistance to persons arrested or on whom sentence deferred
  64. 27AGrants in respect of community service facilities
  65. 27BGrants in respect of hostel accommodation for persons under supervision.
  66. Ancillary
  67. 28Burial or cremation of the dead. Repealed
  68. 29Power of local authority to defray certain travelling expenses.
  69. Part III: Children in need of Compulsory Measures of Care
  70. 30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  71. 31Restriction on prosecution of children for offences.
  72. 32. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  73. 33. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  74. 34. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  75. 34A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  76. 35. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  77. 36. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  78. 36A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  79. 37. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  80. 38. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  81. 39. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  82. 40. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  83. 41. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  84. 42. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  85. 43. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  86. 44. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  87. 45. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  88. 46. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  89. 47. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  90. 48. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  91. 49. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  92. 50. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  93. 51. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  94. 52. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  95. 53. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  96. 54. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  97. 55. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  98. 56. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  99. 57. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  100. 58. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  101. 58A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  102. 58B. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  103. 58C. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  104. 58D. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  105. 58E. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  106. 58F. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  107. 58G. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  108. Part IV: Residential and other Establishments
  109. Provision of residential and other establishments
  110. 59Provision of residential and other establishments by local authorities, and maximum period for repayment of sums borrowed for such provision.
  111. 59AGrants in respect of secure accommodation for children.
  112. 60Control of residential and other establishments. Repealed
  113. Registration of certain residential and other establishments
  114. 61Restriction on carrying on of establishments. Repealed
  115. 61AVoluntary registration. Repealed
  116. 62Registration. Repealed
  117. 62ACertificate of registration as respects grant-aided or independent school. Repealed
  118. 63Special provisions for registration by Secretary of State. Repealed
  119. 63AAppeals against conditions imposed on registration or subsequently. Repealed
  120. 63BSpecial provisions for jointly registrable establishments. Repealed
  121. 64Appeals against refusal or cancellation of registration. Repealed
  122. 64ARegistration fees. Repealed
  123. 65Removal of persons from establishments. Repealed
  124. 66Duty to furnish particulars of establishments. Repealed
  125. 67Entry to examine state and management of establishments etc. Repealed
  126. 68Visiting of persons in establishments on behalf of local authorities. Repealed
  127. Part V
  128. Absence without leave
  129. 69Abscondment from a place of safety, or from the control of a person imposed by a supervision requirement.
  130. 70Abscondment from residential establishments.
  131. 71Harbouring.
  132. Transfer
  133. 72Supervision of children moving to England or Wales or Northern Ireland.
  134. 73Supervision of children moving to Scotland.
  135. 74Parent of a child in a residential establishment under a supervision requirement moving to England or Wales or Northern Ireland.
  136. 75Parent of a child subject to an approved school order or a committal order moving to Scotland.
  137. 76Procedure.
  138. 77Meaning of child for the purposes of this Part of this Act.
  139. Part VI: Contributions in respect of Children in Care etc.
  140. 78Duty to make contributions in respect of children in care etc.
  141. 78ARecovery of contributions.
  142. 79Recipients of contributions.
  143. 80Enforcement of duty to make contributions.
  144. 81Provisions as to decrees for aliment.
  145. 82Recovery of arrears of contributions.
  146. 83Variation of trusts.
  147. 83AReferences in this Part of this Act to child being looked after.
  148. Part VII: Miscellaneous and General
  149. General
  150. 84Transfer of assets and liabilities.
  151. 85. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  152. 86Adjustments between authority providing accommodation etc., and authority of area of residence.
  153. 86A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  154. 87Charges that may be made for services and accommodation.
  155. 88. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  156. 89. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  157. 90Orders, regulations etc.
  158. 91Expenses.
  159. 92Effect of Act on rate support grant.
  160. 92APowers of the Secretary of State to make grants.
  161. Supplementary
  162. 93Transitional provisions.
  163. 94Interpretation.
  164. 95Minor and consequential amendments, repeals and savings.
  165. 96. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  166. 97Extension of certain provisions of Act to England and Wales, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands.
  167. 98Commencement.
  168. 99Short title.
  169. Schedule 1Schedule 1
  170. Schedule 2: Amendment of Part IV of the Children and Young Persons (Scotland) Act 1937
  171. Part I
  172. General Adaptations
  173. 1Paragraph 1
  174. 2Paragraph 2
  175. Part II: Specific Adaptations
  176. 3—6Paragraph 3—6 Repealed
  177. 7Paragraph 7
  178. 8—15Paragraph 8—15 Repealed
  179. 16Paragraph 16 Repealed
  180. 17Paragraph 17 Repealed
  181. 18Paragraph 18
  182. 19, 20Paragraph 19, 20 Repealed
  183. Schedule 3: Children’s Panels
  184. Appointment
  185. 1Paragraph 1
  186. 2Paragraph 2
  187. Children’s Panel Advisory Committee
  188. 3Paragraph 3
  189. 3AParagraph 3A
  190. 4Paragraph 4
  191. 5Paragraph 5
  192. 5AParagraph 5A
  193. 5BParagraph 5B
  194. Recruitment and Training of Panel Members
  195. 6Paragraph 6
  196. 7Paragraph 7
  197. Expenses of Panel Members
  198. 8Paragraph 8
  199. Schedule 4Schedule 4
  200. Schedule 5Schedule 5
  201. Schedule 6: Transfer of Assets and Liabilities
  202. 1Paragraph 1
  203. 2Paragraph 2
  204. 3Paragraph 3
  205. 4Paragraph 4
  206. 5Paragraph 5
  207. Schedule 7: Transitional Provisions
  208. Registration of existing establishments
  209. 1Paragraph 1
  210. Approved schools
  211. 2Paragraph 2
  212. Contributions in respect of children taken into care
  213. 3Paragraph 3
  214. Approved school orders, fit person orders, and supervision orders
  215. 4Paragraph 4
  216. Jurisdiction of courts
  217. 5Paragraph 5
  218. 6Paragraph 6
  219. Remand Home Grant
  220. 7Paragraph 7
  221. Probation Grant
  222. 8Paragraph 8
  223. Interpretation
  224. 9Paragraph 9
  225. Schedule 8: Minor and Consequential Amendments
  226. 1Paragraph 1 Repealed
  227. 2—5Paragraph 2—5 Repealed
  228. Children and Young Persons (Scotland) Act 1937
  229. 6Paragraph 6
  230. 7Paragraph 7
  231. 8Paragraph 8
  232. 9Paragraph 9
  233. 10Paragraph 10
  234. National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1947
  235. 11Paragraph 11
  236. 12Paragraph 12
  237. 13Paragraph 13
  238. National Assistance Act 1948
  239. 14Paragraph 14
  240. 15Paragraph 15 Repealed
  241. 16Paragraph 16
  242. 17Paragraph 17 Repealed
  243. 18Paragraph 18 Repealed
  244. 19Paragraph 19 Repealed
  245. Nurseries and Child-Minders Regulation Act 1948
  246. 20Paragraph 20 Repealed
  247. 21Paragraph 21 Repealed
  248. 22—31Paragraph 22—31 Repealed
  249. Maintenance Orders Act 1950
  250. 32Paragraph 32
  251. 33Paragraph 33
  252. 34Paragraph 34
  253. 35Paragraph 35 Repealed
  254. Valuation and Rating (Scotland) Act 1956
  255. 36Paragraph 36 Repealed
  256. Adoption Act 1958
  257. 37Paragraph 37
  258. 38Paragraph 38
  259. 39Paragraph 39
  260. 40Paragraph 40
  261. 41Paragraph 41
  262. Matrimonial Proceedings (Children) Act 1958
  263. 42Paragraph 42
  264. 43Paragraph 43
  265. 44—47Paragraph 44—47 Repealed
  266. 48, 49Paragraph 48, 49 Repealed
  267. 50Paragraph 50 Repealed
  268. 51—59Paragraph 51—59 Repealed
  269. Health Visiting and Social Work (Training) Act 1962
  270. 60Paragraph 60
  271. 61, 62Paragraph 61, 62 Repealed
  272. 63, 64Paragraph 63, 64 Repealed
  273. 65—67Paragraph 65—67 Repealed
  274. Children and Young Persons Act 1963
  275. 68Paragraph 68
  276. 69—72Paragraph 69—72 Repealed
  277. Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages (Scotland) Act 1965
  278. 73Paragraph 73
  279. 74Paragraph 74 Repealed
  280. Schedule 9: Enactments Repealed
  281. IRepeals Extending to Scotland Only
  282. IIRepeals Extending to England and Wales