Children Act 1989, Schedule 2, paragraph 15

Promotion and maintenance of contact between child and family

SCHEDULE 2 SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES PROVIDED BY LOCAL AUTHORITIES IN ENGLAND

15 (1) Where a child is being looked after by a local authority, the authority shall, unless it is not reasonably practicable or consistent with his welfare, endeavour to promote contact between the child and—

(a) his parents;

(b) any person who is not a parent of his but who has parental responsibility for him; and

(c) any relative, friend or other person connected with him.

(2) Where a child is being looked after by a local authority—

(a) the authority shall take such steps as are reasonably practicable to secure that—

(i) his parents; and

(ii) any person who is not a parent of his but who has parental responsibility for him,

are kept informed of where he is being accommodated; and

(b) every such person shall secure that the authority are kept informed of his or her address.

(3) Where a local authority (“the receiving authority") take over the provision of accommodation for a child from another local authority[F1221 or a local authority in Wales F1221] (“the transferring authority") under section 20(2)—

(a) the receiving authority shall (where reasonably practicable) inform—

(i) the child’s parents; and

(ii) any person who is not a parent of his but who has parental responsibility for him;

(b) sub-paragraph (2)(a) shall apply to the transferring authority, as well as the receiving authority, until at least one such person has been informed of the change; and

(c) sub-paragraph (2)(b) shall not require any person to inform the receiving authority of his address until he has been so informed.

(4) Nothing in this paragraph requires a local authority to inform any person of the whereabouts of a child if—

(a) the child is in the care of the authority; and

(b) the authority has reasonable cause to believe that informing the person would prejudice the child’s welfare.

(5) Any person who fails (without reasonable excuse) to comply with sub-paragraph (2)(b) shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 2 on the standard scale.

(6) It shall be a defence in any proceedings under sub-paragraph (5) to prove that the defendant was residing at the same address as another person who was the child’s parent or had parental responsibility for the child and had reasonable cause to believe that the other person had informed the appropriate authority that both of them were residing at that address.

Definitions used in Schedule 2, paragraph 15 5

child

16 (1) In this Schedule “child” includes, in any case where an application is made under paragraph 2 or 6 in relation to a person who has reached the age of eighteen, that person.

Defined in Sch.1 para.16(1) · see it in the full Act

“child” means, subject to paragraph 16 of Schedule 1, a person under the age of eighteen;

Defined in s.105(1) · see it in the full Act
local authority

“local authority” means, in relation to England ..., the council of a county, a metropolitan district, a London Borough or the Common Council of the City of London in relation to Wales, the council of a county or a county borough and, in relation to Scotland, a local authority within the meaning of section 1(2) of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 ;

Defined in s.105(1) · see it in the full Act
parent

(2) In this Schedule, except paragraphs 2 and 15, “parent” includes—

(a) any party to a marriage (whether or not subsisting) in relation to whom the child concerned is a child of the family, and

(b) any civil partner in a civil partnership (whether or not subsisting) in relation to whom the child concerned is a child of the family;

Defined in Sch.1 para.16(2) · see it in the full Act

21 In this Part of this Schedule “parent” has the same meaning as in the Education Act 1996 . ).

Defined in Sch.3 para.21 · see it in the full Act
parental responsibility

“parental responsibility” has the meaning given in section 3;

Defined in s.105(1) · see it in the full Act

(1) In this Act “parental responsibility” means all the rights, duties, powers, responsibilities and authority which by law a parent of a child has in relation to the child and his property.

Defined in s.3(1) · see it in the full Act
relative

“relative”, in relation to a child, means a grandparent, brother, sister, uncle or aunt (whether of the full blood or half blood or by marriage or civil partnership) or step-parent;

Defined in s.105(1) · see it in the full Act

Cases considering Schedule 2, paragraph 15 7

T (Interim Care Order: Arrangements for Contact), Re

[2024] EWCA Civ 469 · 7 May 2024

The Court applies the duty to endeavour to promote contact between a looked-after child and parents unless doing so is not reasonably practicable or is inconsistent with the child’s welfare. The Local Authority accepted that it should have done more to assess contact and communicate its position. (see paras [10], [29]-[31(i)])

D-S (Contact With Children In Care: Covid-19)

[2020] EWCA Civ 1031 · 4 August 2020

The court confirmed that the local authority must endeavour to promote contact unless doing so is not reasonably practicable or consistent with the child’s welfare. (see para [11])

C and B (Children)

[2000] EWCA Civ 3040 · 30 March 2000

The local authority retained a duty to promote contact with children in care unless contact was not reasonably practicable or was inconsistent with the children’s welfare. The contact restriction did not remove that continuing duty. (see judgment of Lady Justice Hale)

What each judgment says about Schedule 2, paragraph 15 is in the case-law panel in the full Act.

Amendments and notes

4 notes from legislation.gov.uk

Amendments

  1. F1221Words in Sch. 2 para. 15(3) inserted (6.4.2016) by The Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/413), regs. 2(1), 114

Modifications

  1. C85Sch. 2 para. 15: power to apply with modifications or exclude conferred (7.2.2004 (W.) and 7.12.2004 (E.)) by 2002 c. 38, ss. 53(1)(2), 148 (with Sch. 4 paras. 1, 6-8); S.I. 2004/3203, art. 2(1)(h); S.I. 2004/252, art. 2
  2. C86Sch. 2 para. 15 excluded (30.12.2005) by: The Adoption Agencies Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/389), reg. 45(2)(d); The Adoption Agencies (Wales) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/1313), reg. 46(2)(d)

Commencement

  1. I122Sch. 2 Pt. II para. 15 wholly in force at 14.10.1991 see s. 108(2)(3) and S.I. 1991/828, art. 3(2)