Regulation 3 Provision of special guardianship support services

(1)

For the purposes of section 14F(1)(b) of the Act^f1, the following services are prescribed in relation to special guardianship—

(a)

the provision of financial support under regulation 4;

(b)

services to enable groups of relevant children, special guardians, prospective special guardians and parents of relevant children (or groups consisting of any combination of those individuals) to discuss matters relating to special guardianship;

(c)

assistance for relevant children, their parents and related persons in relation to arrangements made for contact between such children and any of the following —

(i)

their parents;

(ii)

their former guardians or special guardians;

(iii)

related persons;

(d)

services provided in relation to the therapeutic needs of a relevant child;

(e)

assistance for the purpose of ensuring the continuance of the relationship between a relevant child and a special guardian or prospective special guardian, including—

(i)

training for that person to meet any special needs of the child; and

(ii)

respite care;

(f)

where the relationship between a child and his or her special guardian is in danger of breaking down, assistance whose aim is to prevent that occurring, including—

(i)

mediation; and

(ii)

organising and holding meetings between such persons as appear to the authority to be appropriate in order to address the difficulties faced by the relationship between the child and his or her special guardian.

(2)

The fact that a person is outside a local authority’s area does not prevent the provision of special guardianship support services to him or her in accordance with these Regulations.

(3)

The following are prescribed for the purposes of section 14F(9)(b) of the Act—

(a)

adoption support agencies;

(b)

Local Health Boards, NHS Trusts and Primary Care Trusts;

(c)

local education authorities;

(d)

voluntary adoption agencies; and

(e)

independent fostering agencies.

Annotations

Footnotes

f1: Section 14F(1) of the Act provides: “Each local authority must make arrangements for the provision within their area of special guardianship support services, which means: (a) counselling, advice and information; and (b) such other services as are prescribed, in relation to special guardianship”.