Section 23ZA — Children Act 1989: Duty of local authority to ensure visits to, and contact with, looked after children and others

Duty of local authority to ensure visits to, and contact with, looked after children and others 23ZA 1 This section applies to—

a a child looked after by a local authority;

b a child who was looked after by a local authority but who has ceased to be looked after by them as a result of prescribed circumstances.

2 It is the duty of the local authority—

a to ensure that a person to whom this section applies is visited by a representative of the authority (“a representative”);

b to arrange for appropriate advice, support and assistance to be available to a person to whom this section applies who seeks it from them.

3 The duties imposed by subsection (2)—

a are to be discharged in accordance with any regulations made for the purposes of this section by the Secretary of State ;

b are subject to any requirement imposed by or under an enactment applicable to the place in which the person to whom this section applies is accommodated.

4 Regulations under this section for the purposes of subsection (3)(a) may make provision about—

a the frequency of visits;

b circumstances in which a person to whom this section applies must be visited by a representative;

and c the functions of a representative.

5 In choosing a representative a local authority must satisfy themselves that the person chosen has the necessary skills and experience to perform the functions of a representative.