New Clause 31

Part of Children and Young Persons Bill [Lords] – in a Public Bill Committee at 3:51 pm on 3 July 2008.

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Duty to assess provision of independent advocacy services

‘(1) A local authority must prepare assessments of the sufficiency of the provision of independent advocacy services (whether or not by them) for looked after children for whom they are responsible (“advocacy assessments”).

(2) The first advocacy assessment must be prepared before the end of the period of one year beginning at the commencement of this section.

(3) Subsequent advocacy assessments must be prepared at intervals not exceeding three years.

(4) The local authority must keep an advocacy assessment under review until the independent advocacy assessment is superseded by a further advocacy assessment.

(5) Regulations may make provision requiring an advocacy assessment—

(a) to deal with prescribed matters or be prepared according to prescribed criteria;

(b) to be in the prescribed form;

(c) to be published in the prescribed manner and in a manner that can be understood by children.

(6) In preparing an advocacy assessment and keeping it under review, a local authority must—

(a) consult such persons, or persons of such a description, as may be prescribed including looked after children and those who provide independent advocacy services;

(b) have regard to any guidance given from time to time by the Secretary of State.’.—[Mr. Kidney.]