The Adoption and Children (Coronavirus) (Amendment) (No.2) Regulations 2020

Made: 26th August 2020

Laid before Parliament: 28th August 2020

Coming into force in accordance with regulations 1(2) and (3)

The Secretary of State for Education, in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 22C(11), 23ZA(4)(b) and 104(4) of and paragraphs 12A, 12E and 12F of Schedule 2 to the Children Act 1989 , sections 22(1), (2)(d), (5)(a), (7)(a), (c) and (d), 31(7) and 118(5) and (7) of the Care Standards Act 2000 and sections 9(1)(a) and 140(7) and (8) of the Adoption and Children Act 2002 makes the following Regulations.

In accordance with section 22(9) of the Care Standards Act 2000 the Secretary of State has consulted such persons as were considered appropriate.

Citation and commencement

1

• (1) These Regulations may be cited as the Adoption and Children (Coronavirus) (Amendment) (No.2) Regulations 2020.

• (2) This regulation and regulation 7 come into force on 24th September.

• (3) The remainder of these Regulations come into force on 25th September.

Amendment of the Residential Family Centres Regulations 2002

2

• (1) The Residential Family Centres Regulations 2002 are amended as follows.

• (2) After regulation 25(4) (visits by registered provider) insert—

(4A) Where paragraph (4B) applies any interview carried out under paragraph (4)(a) may be carried out by telephone, video-link or by other electronic means. (4B) This paragraph applies where complying with paragraph (4)(a)— (a) would be contrary to any guidance relating to the incidence or transmission of coronavirus published by Public Health England or the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, or (b) is not reasonably practicable for a reason relating to the incidence or transmission of coronavirus. (4C) In paragraph (4B) ‘coronavirus’ means severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). (4D) The person carrying out the visit under paragraph (1) and (2) must keep a record of any interview carried out in accordance with paragraph (4A).

Amendment of the Adoption Agencies Regulations 2005

3

• (1) The Adoption Agencies Regulations 2005 are amended as follows.

• (2) In regulation 26(b) (other pre-assessment information), at the beginning insert “ Subject to regulation 27(1A), ”.

• (3) After regulation 27(1) (pre-assessment decision) insert—

(1A) The adoption agency may make a decision under paragraph (1) even if the information requested under regulation 26(b) has yet to be obtained. (1B) The adoption agency must keep a record of any decision made in accordance with paragraph (1A).

• (4) In regulation 30B (adoption agency decision and notification)—

• (a) after paragraph (1) insert—

(1A) The adoption agency must not make a decision under paragraph (1) until it has obtained the information required under regulation 26(b).

• (b) in paragraph (5)(c)(ii), at the beginning insert “ subject to paragraph (5A), ”, and

• (c) after paragraph (5) insert—

(5A) Where the adoption agency consider that the prospective adopter is not suitable to adopt because of information obtained under regulation 26(b) the prospective adopter may not apply to the Secretary of State for a review by an independent review panel of the qualifying determination.

Amendment of the Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) Regulations 2010

4

• (1) The Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) Regulations 2010 are amended as follows.

• (2) After regulation 28(1) (frequency of visits) insert—

(1A) Where paragraph (1B) applies any visit required by this regulation may be conducted by telephone, video-link or other electronic means. (1B) This paragraph applies where carrying out a visit other than in accordance with paragraph (1A)— (a) would be contrary to any guidance relating to the incidence or transmission of coronavirus published by Public Health England or the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, or (b) is not reasonably practicable for a reason relating to the incidence or transmission of coronavirus. (1C) any visit carried out in accordance with paragraph (1A) must be carried out in accordance with any recommendations given by the nominated officer. (1D) The responsible authority must keep a record of any visit carried out in accordance with paragraph (1A). (1E) In paragraph (1B) ‘coronavirus’ means severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

• (3) In regulation 48 (application of these regulations with modifications to short breaks)—

• (a) in paragraph (1) after “paragraph 3” insert “ and paragraph (4) ”,

• (b) in paragraph (3) omit “The modifications are that—”, and

• (c) at the end insert—

(4) Where paragraph (5) applies any visit required by this regulation may be conducted by telephone, video-link or other electronic means. (5) This paragraph applies where carrying out a visit other than in accordance with paragraph (4)— (a) would be contrary to any guidance relating to the incidence or transmission of coronavirus published by Public Health England or the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, or (b) is not reasonably practicable for a reason relating to the incidence or transmission of coronavirus. (6) Any visit carried out in accordance with paragraph (4) must be carried out in accordance with any recommendations given by the nominated officer. (7) The responsible authority must keep a record of any visit carried out in accordance with paragraph (4). (8) In this paragraph ‘coronavirus’ means severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

Amendment of the Fostering Services (England) Regulations 2011

5

• (1) The Fostering Services (England) Regulations 2011 are amended as follows.

• (2) In regulation 26 (assessment of prospective foster parent)—

• (a) for the opening words of paragraph (2) substitute—

(2) Subject to paragraphs (2A) and (3), where the fostering service provider have obtained all the information set out in paragraph (1A) and have not given the notification in paragraph (1B), the fostering service provider must—

, and

• (b) after paragraph (2) insert—

(2A) The fostering service provider may comply with paragraph (2)(a) even if the information required by paragraph 2 of Schedule 3 has yet to be obtained. (2B) A fostering service provider must keep a record of any decision made in accordance with paragraph (2A).

Amendment of the Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015

6

• (1) The Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015 are amended as follows.

• (2) In regulation 22 (contact and access to communications)—

• (a) in the opening words to paragraph (1) for “The registered person” substitute “ Subject to paragraph (1A) the registered person ”.

• (b) after paragraph (1) insert—

(1A) Where paragraph (1B) applies any meeting referred to in paragraph (1) may take place by telephone, video-link or other electronic means. (1B) This paragraph applies where a meeting taking place in accordance with paragraph (1)— (a) would be contrary to any guidance relating to the incidence or transmission of coronavirus published by Public Health England or the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, or (b) is not reasonably practicable for a reason relating to the incidence or transmission of coronavirus. (1C) The registered person must keep a record of any meeting carried out in accordance with paragraph (1A). (1D) in this paragraph “coronavirus” means severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

Amendment of the Adoption and Children (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020

7

In regulation 14 of the Adoption and Children (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (amendment of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Education, Children's Services and Skills (Fees and Frequency of Inspections) (Children's Homes etc) Regulations 2015)—

• (a) in paragraph (1) after “Part 13” insert “ and paragraph (1A) ”,

• (b) after paragraph (1) insert—

(1A) The amendment made by regulation 12 ceases to have effect on 31st March 2021.

Review and expiry

8

• (1) The Secretary of State must review the effectiveness of the amendments made by these Regulations during the period for which they have effect.

• (2) These Regulations expire at the end of 30th September 2021.

• (3) This regulation does not affect the validity of anything done pursuant to the amendments made by these Regulations before they cease to have effect.

Signed

Vicky Ford — Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Children and Families — 2020-08-26

Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

Footnotes

[^f00001]: 1989 c. 41. Section 22C(11) was amended by S.I. 2016/413. Section 23ZA was inserted by section 15 of the Children and Young Persons Act 2008 (c. 23). Section 104(4)(c) was repealed by paragraph 25(5) of Schedule 3 to the Children and Young Persons Act 2008. Paragraphs 12A to 12G of Schedule 2 were substituted by paragraph 4 of Schedule 1 to the Children’s and Young Persons Act 2008. Paragraph 12F of Schedule 2 was amended by S.I. 2016/413.

[^f00002]: 2000 c. 14. Section 22(1) was amended by section 103(1) of the Children and Families Act 2014 (c. 6). Section 22(1)(b)(ii) was amended by S.I. 2019/772. Section 31(7) was amended by section 95 of and Schedule 5 to the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

[^f00003]: 2002 c. 38. Section 140(7) was inserted by section 7(1) of the Children and Families Act 2014.

[^f00004]: S.I. 2002/3213. Amended by S.I. 2013/499 and S.I. 2020/445. The amendments made by S.I. 2020/445 cease to have effect on 25th September 2020 subject to savings provisions. There are other amendments not relevant to these Regulations.

[^f00005]: S.I. 2005/389. Amended by S.I. 2011/589, S.I. 2012/1410, S.I. 2013/985, S.I. 2005/3482 and S.I. 2020/445. The amendments made by S.I. 2020/445 cease to have effect on 25th September 2020 subject to savings provisions.

[^f00006]: S.I. 2010/959. Amended by S.I. 2013/706, S.I. 2011/581, S.I. 2018/48, S.I. 2015/495, S.I. 2014/852, S.I. 2014/2013, S.I. 2014/1917, S.I. 2011/581 and S.I. 2020/445. The amendments made by S.I. 2020/445 cease to have effect on 25th September 2020 subject to savings provisions. Regulation 22A was inserted by S.I. 2014/1556.

[^f00007]: S.I. 2011/581. Amended by S.I. 2013/984 and S.I 2020/445. The amendments made by S.I. 2020/445 cease to have effect on 25th September 2020 subject to savings provisions, including a savings provision relating to amendments to regulation 26.

[^f00008]: S.I. 2015/541. Amended by S.I. 2016/211 and S.I. 2020/445. The amendments made by S.I. 2020/445 cease to have effect on 25th September 2020 subject to savings provisions.

[^f00009]: S.I. 2020/445. The amendments made by S.I. 2020/445 cease to have effect on 25th September 2020 subject to savings provisions.

Editorial notes

[^c24277241]: 1989 c. 41. Section 22C(11) was amended by S.I. 2016/413. Section 23ZA was inserted by section 15 of the Children and Young Persons Act 2008 (c. 23). Section 104(4)(c) was repealed by paragraph 25(5) of Schedule 3 to the Children and Young Persons Act 2008. Paragraphs 12A to 12G of Schedule 2 were substituted by paragraph 4 of Schedule 1 to the Children's and Young Persons Act 2008. Paragraph 12F of Schedule 2 was amended by S.I. 2016/413.

[^c24277251]: 2000 c. 14. Section 22(1) was amended by section 103(1) of the Children and Families Act 2014 (c. 6). Section 22(1)(b)(ii) was amended by S.I. 2019/772. Section 31(7) was amended by section 95 of and Schedule 5 to the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

[^c24277261]: 2002 c. 38. Section 140(7) was inserted by section 7(1) of the Children and Families Act 2014.

[^c24277271]: S.I. 2002/3213. Amended by S.I. 2013/499 and S.I. 2020/445. The amendments made by S.I. 2020/445 cease to have effect on 25th September 2020 subject to savings provisions. There are other amendments not relevant to these Regulations.

[^c24277281]: S.I. 2005/389. Amended by S.I. 2011/589, S.I. 2012/1410, S.I. 2013/985, S.I. 2005/3482 and S.I. 2020/445. The amendments made by S.I. 2020/445 cease to have effect on 25th September 2020 subject to savings provisions.

[^c24277291]: S.I. 2010/959. Amended by S.I. 2013/706, S.I. 2011/581, S.I. 2018/48, S.I. 2015/495, S.I. 2014/852, S.I. 2014/2013, S.I. 2014/1917, S.I. 2011/581 and S.I. 2020/445. The amendments made by S.I. 2020/445 cease to have effect on 25th September 2020 subject to savings provisions. Regulation 22A was inserted by S.I. 2014/1556.

[^c24277301]: S.I. 2011/581. Amended by S.I. 2013/984 and S.I 2020/445. The amendments made by S.I. 2020/445 cease to have effect on 25th September 2020 subject to savings provisions, including a savings provision relating to amendments to regulation 26.

[^c24277311]: S.I. 2015/541. Amended by S.I. 2016/211 and S.I. 2020/445. The amendments made by S.I. 2020/445 cease to have effect on 25th September 2020 subject to savings provisions.

[^c24277321]: S.I. 2020/445. The amendments made by S.I. 2020/445 cease to have effect on 25th September 2020 subject to savings provisions.

[^key-2b1e961f6b1fc16cc6d61617485fbabf]: Reg. 1 in force at 24.9.2020, see reg. 1(2)

[^key-6a68085231193fb97db31fc3b4215497]: Reg. 2 in force at 25.9.2020, see reg. 1(3)

[^key-b3e5b27283d53ef329fe24997eb7f8c1]: Reg. 3 in force at 25.9.2020, see reg. 1(3)

[^key-cee6c0b340d46584832901f6f1a77038]: Reg. 4 in force at 25.9.2020, see reg. 1(3)

[^key-55df603201f72c60d3ee4cf2fc615d1d]: Reg. 5 in force at 25.9.2020, see reg. 1(3)

[^key-533fd24cfd429a73f7123374ba22c494]: Reg. 6 in force at 25.9.2020, see reg. 1(3)

[^key-61a18f9424c0c2f19e92b1f45c69438e]: Reg. 7 in force at 24.9.2020, see reg. 1(2)

[^key-469de1c51dfd4adad72b932b267689a5]: Reg. 8 in force at 25.9.2020, see reg. 1(3)

[^key-38eee20f3619d2e97f8a5772df46e9ee]: Words in reg. 8(2) substituted (30.3.2021) by The Adoption and Children (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 (S.I. 2021/261), regs. 1(2), 4