Citation, commencement and interpretation

1.-(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Children (Homes and Secure Accommodation) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 1996 and shall come into force on 1st April 1996.

(2) In these Regulations-

"the principal Regulations" means the Children's Homes Regulations 1991;(2) and

"the Secure Accommodation Regulations" means the Secure Accommodation Regulations 1991(3).

Amendment of regulation 2 of the principal Regulations

2. In regulation 2 of the principal Regulations (interpretation) for the definition of "maintained community home" there shall be substituted the following definition-

• ""maintained community home" means a community home provided, equipped and maintained by a local authority pursuant to section 53(3)(a) of the Act (provision of community homes by local authorities) and managed-

  (i)

  by that authority pursuant to that section,

  (ii)

  by, or by the employees of, a person authorised in that behalf by a local authority pursuant to the Contracting Out (Management Functions in relation to certain Community Homes) Order 1996(4), or

  (iii)

  where an arrangement has been made by a local authority with another person in accordance with section 53(3A) of the Act(5), by that person;".

Amendment of the Secure Accommodation Regulations

3. In regulation 17 of the Secure Accommodation Regulations (records to be kept in respect of a child in secure accommodation etc.)(6)-

(a)for the words "the local authority which manages" there shall be substituted the words "the person, organisation or local authority which manages", and

(b)in paragraph (b), for the words "any other local authority" there shall be substituted the words "the local authority".

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend both the Children's Homes Regulations 1991 ("the principal Regulations") and the Secure Accommodation Regulations 1991.

In the principal Regulations the definition of the term "maintained community home" is amended so that it includes references to such homes managed by local authorities, by persons authorised by local authorites or, in relation to secure accommodation, by other persons with whom local authorities have made arrangements to manage that accommodation.

In the Secure Accommodation Regulations 1991 the requirements relating to the keeping of records in respect of children in secure accommodation are extended to apply to other persons or organisations managing such accommodation.