Citation and commencement

1.  These Regulations may be cited as the Looked After Children (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2014 and come into force on 29th December 2014.

Amendment of the Looked After Children (Scotland) Regulations 2009: Fostering placement limit

2.  (1)  The Looked After Children (Scotland) Regulations 2009(3) are amended as follows.

(2) In regulation 20(2)(c) (functions of the foster panel) after "time" insert ", subject to the placement limit set out in regulation 27A.".

(3) In regulation 22(5)(d) (approval of foster carers) after "time" insert ", subject to the placement limit set out in regulation 27A.".

(4) In regulation 27(1) (placement of child with foster carer) after sub-paragraph (b) insert-

"; or

(c)the placement would result in the placement limit set out in regulation 27A being exceeded.".

(5) After regulation 27 insert-

"Placement limit

27A.  (1)  Subject to paragraph (2) a local authority must not place a child with a foster carer where the placement would result in more than 3 children being placed with that foster carer at any one time.

(2) The limit in paragraph (1) does not apply-

(a)when a group of more than 3 siblings are being placed by a local authority; or

(b)when an emergency placement of a child with a foster carer in accordance with regulation 36 or a short–term placement of less than 4 weeks would result in more than 3 children being placed with that foster carer.".

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Looked After Children (Scotland) Regulations 2009 ("the 2009 Regulations") to make provision for a placement limit in relation to the number of children that may be placed with a foster carer at any one time.

Regulation 2(5) inserts regulation 27A into the 2009 Regulations to provide that a local authority must not place a child with a foster carer where the placement would result in more than 3 children being placed with that foster carer at any one time.

The limit does not apply when a group of more than 3 siblings are being placed by a local authority or when an emergency placement of a child with a foster carer in accordance with regulation 36 of the 2009 Regulations or a short–term placement of less than 4 weeks would result in more than 3 children being placed with that carer.

Regulation 2 also makes some minor amendments to the 2009 Regulations in consequence of the new placement limit.