The Children Act 1989

Part I is the introductory element that addresses the welfare of the child (s. 1), parental responsibility for children (s. 2), gives a meaning of parental responsibility (s. 3), acquisition of parental responsibility by father (s. 4), appointment of guardians (s. 5), details on guardians, revocation and disclaimer (s. 6) and welfare reports (s. 7).

Part II relates to orders with respect to children in family proceedings.  Section 8 gives details on residence, contact and other orders with respect to children.  Other references to orders are set out including restrictions on making section 8 orders (s. 9), the court has power to make section 8 orders (s. 10), residential orders and parental responsibility (s. 12), change of child’s name or removal from jurisdiction (s. 13), enforcement of residence orders (s. 14).  The Act also addresses financial relief (s. 15) and family assistance orders (s. 16).

Part III includes provisions of services for children and their families.  This includes provision of services for children in need, their families and others (s. 17), day care for pre-school and other children (s. 18), review of provision for day care, child minding etc (s. 19), provision of accommodation for children in general (s. 20) and a provision of accommodation for children in police protection or detention or on remand etc (s. 21).  There is a general duty of local authority in relation to children looked after by them which is covered in Section 22 and a provision of accommodation and maintenance by local authority for children whom they are looking after (s. 23).  Section 24 sets out advice and assistance for certain children.  Section 25 requires the use of accommodation to be secure for restricting liberty.  Section 26 – 30 is supplemental and includes details on reviewing cases and inquiries into representations (s. 26), co-operation between authorities (s. 27), consultation with local education authorities (s. 28).

Part IV relates to the care and supervision.  Section 31 addresses care and supervision orders.  Sections 33 – 34 relate to care orders.  Sections 35 – 36 apply to supervision orders including education supervision orders.  The powers of the court are addressed in Sections 37 – 40.  Guardians ad litem are addressed in Sections 41 – 42.  Section 42 grants a right to a guardian ad litem to have access to local authority records.

Part V relates to the protection of children.  This includes child assessment orders (s. 43), orders for emergency protection of children (s. 44), duration of emergency protection orders and other supplemental provisions (s. 45) and removal and accommodation of children by police in cases of emergency (s. 46).  Section 47 imposes a duty on local authority’s to investigate if they fall under Section 47 (1).  Section 48 grants powers to assist in discovery of children who may be in need of emergency protection.  Part V also includes details on abduction of children in care (s. 49), recovery of abducted children (s. 50), refuges for children at risk (s, 51) and rules and regulations (s.52).
Part VI applies to community homes.  There is a provision of community homes by local authorities (s. 53), directions that premises be no longer used for community home (s. 54), determination of disputes relating to controlled and assisted community homes (s. 55), discontinuance by voluntary organisation of controlled or assisted community home (s. 56), closure by local authority of controlled or assisted community home (s.57) and financial provisions applicable on cessation of controlled or assisted community home or disposal etc of premises (s. 58).

Part VII applies to voluntary homes and voluntary organisations.  This includes a provision of accommodation by voluntary organisations (s. 59), registration and regulation of voluntary homes (s. 60), duties of voluntary organisations (s. 61) and duties of local authorities (s. 62).

Part VIII relates to registered children’s homes.  This part includes that children are not to be cared for and accommodated in unregistered children’s homes (s. 63), provisions relating to the welfare of children in children’s homes (s. 64) and addresses persons disqualified from carrying on, or being employed in children’s homes (s. 65).

Part IX addresses private arrangements for fostering children.  The Act defines privately fostered children (s. 66), the welfare of privately fostered children (s. 67), persons disqualified form being private foster parents (s. 68), power to prohibit private fostering (s. 69) and states the offences (s. 70).

Part X focuses on child minding and day care for young children.  Details are set out on registration (s. 71), requirements to be complied with by child minders (s. 72), requirements to be complied with by persons providing day care for young children (s. 73), and cancellation of registration (s. 74), protection of children in an emergency (s. 75), inspections (s. 76), appeals (s. 77), offences (s. 78) and application of this part to Scotland (s. 79).

Part XI gives details on the Secretary of State’s supervisory functions and responsibilities.  This includes inspection of children’s homes by persons authorised from Secretary of State (s. 80), inquiries (s. 81), and financial support by Secretary of State (s. 82), research and returns of information (s. 83) and local authority failure to comply with statutory duty: default power of Secretary of State (s. 84).

Part XII gives details on miscellaneous and general elements.  This includes notification of children accommodated in certain establishments (s. 85), children accommodated in residential care, nursing, or mental nursing homes (s. 86), welfare of children accommodated in independent schools (s. 87), adoption (s. 88), Paternity tests (s. 89), criminal care and supervision orders (s. 90), jurisdiction and procedure (s. 92), attendance of child at hearing (s. 95), evidence given by or with respect to children (s. 96), privacy for children involved in certain proceedings (s. 97), self- incrimination (s. 98), legal aid (s. 99), restrictions on use of wardship jurisdiction (s. 100), search warrants (s. 102), regulations and orders (s. 104) and interpretation (s.105).

SCHEDULES

SCHEDULE 1 Financial provisions for children.
SCHEDULE 2 Local Authority support for children and families.
SCHEDULE 3 Supervision orders
SCHEDULE 4  Management and conduct of community homes
SCHEDULE 5 Voluntary homes and voluntary organisations
SCHEDULE 6 Registered Children’s homes
SCHEDULE 7 Foster parents, limits on number of foster children
SCHEDULE 8 Privately fostered children
SCHEDULE 9 Child minding and day care for young children
SCHEDULE 10 Amendments of adoption legislation
SCHEDULE 11 Jurisdiction
SCHEDULE 12 Minor amendments
SCHEDULE 13 Consequential amendments
SCHEDULE 14 Transitionals and savings
SCHEDULE 15 Repeals

See here: The Children Act 1989