Section 22G — Children Act 1989: General duty of local authority to secure sufficient accommodation for looked after children

General duty of local authority to secure sufficient accommodation for looked after children 22G 1 It is the general duty of a local authority to take steps that secure, so far as reasonably practicable, the outcome in subsection (2).

2 The outcome is that the local authority are able to provide the children mentioned in subsection (3) with accommodation that—

a is within the authority's area;

and b meets the needs of those children.

3 The children referred to in subsection (2) are those—

a that the local authority are looking after, b in respect of whom the authority are unable to make arrangements under section 22C(2),

and c whose circumstances are such that it would be consistent with their welfare for them to be provided with accommodation that is in the authority's area.

4 In taking steps to secure the outcome in subsection (2), the local authority must have regard to the benefit of having—

a a number of accommodation providers in their area that is, in their opinion, sufficient to secure that outcome;

and b a range of accommodation in their area capable of meeting different needs that is, in their opinion, sufficient to secure that outcome.

5 In this section “ accommodation providers ” means— local authority foster parents; and children's homes in respect of which a person is registered under Part 2 of the Care Standards Act 2000.