Children and Young Persons — COVID-19 — Relaxtion of Procedures Relating to Protection by Local Authorities — 10 Jun 2020 at 16:06

The majority of MPs voted to retain emergency legislation relaxing procedures relating to the protection of children and young people in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and to continue to allow children's homes to enforce directions depriving potentially infected young people of their liberty.

The motion rejected by the majority of MPs in this vote was:

• That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, praying that the Adoption and Children (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (S.I., 2020, No. 445), dated 21 April 2020, a copy of which was laid before this House on 23 April 2020, be annulled.

The regulations, which only relate directly to England:

• * allow childrens' homes to enforce a temporary deprivation of liberty where powers under the Coronavirus Act 2020 in relation to isolation are being exercised in respect of a young person who is infectious or suspected of being infectious with coronavirus (COVID-19) to prevent the virus from spreading.
• * replace a deadline for local authorities to deal with complaints relating to services they provide to children and young people with a requirement to deal with them as soon as is reasonably practicable.
• * give local authorities more time to publish their written statement of action following Ofsted inspection reports.
• * enable medical checks and Disclosure and Barring Service checks to be conducted later in the adoption and fostering process, with consequential amendments to the adoption appeal processes.
• * remove the requirement for an adoption panel to make a recommendation on whether the adopters are suitable.
• * relax time limits applying to stages of the adoption process.
• * relax the time limits for local authority visits in connection with private fostering arrangements.
• * remove the requirement for reviews of approval of foster carers to be carried out within a year of approval.
• * remove the requirement for panels to assess the suitability of foster carers
• * extend the potential length of short break foster and care placements.
• * relax timescales for formalising a care placement plan.
• * allow individuals who are not connected persons to the child, to be approved as temporary foster carers.
• * remove the requirement for a nominated officer from the local authority to approve a fostering for adoption placement in certain circumstances.
• * relax the standards required of a residential family centre, including relation to complaints and visits.
• * relax the requirements in relation to the delivery of care relating to health and development for those in care.
• * allow requirements for visits and inspections of childrens' homes to be carried out by video-link, and to revoke the minimum Ofsted inspection intervals.

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• [1] Explanatory memorandum to the Adoption and Children (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020, Legislation.gov.uk

Debate in Parliament |