FOSTER CHILDREN ACT 1980

Section 1 explains foster children for the purposes of the act. Section 2 sets out the exceptions to Section 1.  Section 3 provides a duty imposed on the local authority to ensure well-being of, and to visit foster children.  Notification of fostering to local authorities is addressed under Section 4 – 6.   Section 4 provides that the local authority are to make provisions for requiring parents whose children are, or are going to be maintained as foster children to give to the local authority for the area where the children are, or going to be living.  Section 5 applies to the notification by persons maintaining or proposing to maintain foster children.  Section 6 applies to notification by persons ceasing to maintain foster children.

Section 7 lists persons disqualified from keeping foster children.  Section 8 – 10 sets out the control local authorities have over fostering.  This includes the power to inspect premises (s. 8), power to impose requirements as to the keeping of foster children (s. 9) and the power to prohibit the keeping of foster children (s. 10).

Sections 11 – 14 provide details relating to proceedings.  This includes the removal of foster children kept in unsuitable surroundings (s. 12), details of search warrants (s. 13) and sittings of juvenile courts, and appeals to Crown Court.

Section 15 prohibits advertisements relating to the fostering of children.  Section 16 sets out the offences relating to foster children.  Section 17 extends the provisions of the Act to certain school children during the holidays.  Section 18 provides and extension of Act to certain children above compulsory school age.

Section 19 – 23 contain the miscellaneous and supplementary provisions.  This includes avoidance of insurances on lives of foster children (s. 19), service of notices by post (s. 20), regulations (s. 21) and interpretation (s. 22).

SCHEDULES

Schedule 1 Transitional Provisions
Schedule 2  Consequential Amendments