Local authority duties to children

This subtopic explains the key duties of local authorities to safeguard children, promote their welfare and provide support where children are at risk, in need, looked after or otherwise vulnerable. It covers the legal and practical frameworks for early intervention, child protection conferences, pre-proceedings work, section 20 accommodation, care planning and looked-after child reviews.

It also addresses more specialist areas of practice, including deprivation of liberty, consent, duties to provide advice and assistance to certain young people, and responsibilities towards unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, families with no leave to remain and children whose age is disputed. The subtopic also includes Wales-specific duties relating to accommodation and looked-after children.

For practical guidance on local authority duties towards children, see Practice Notes:

1. •

   Children in need—provision of services, which outlines local authorities’ duties to assess and provide services for children in need

2. •

   Section 20 of the Children Act 1989—local authority duties, which explains when local authorities must or may provide accommodation under section 20 of the Children Act 1989

3. •

   Local authority duties