Section 29Part 3 — THE DEPARTMENT'S SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
Inquiries into representations
←→ Navigate · Click subsection badges to collapse · Press ? for help
The Department shall establish a procedure for considering any representations (including any complaint) made to it by —
any child who is being looked after by the Department or who is not being looked after by it but is in need;
a parent of the child;
any person who is not a parent of the child but who has parental responsibility for him;
any departmental foster parent; or
such other person as the Department considers has a sufficient interest in the child's welfare to warrant his representations being considered by it, about the discharge by the Department of any of its functions under this Part in relation to the child.
The procedure shall ensure that at least one person who is not an officer of the Department takes part in —
the consideration; and
any discussions which are held by the Department about the action (if any) to be taken in relation to the child in light of the consideration.
In carrying out any consideration of representations under this section the Department shall comply with any regulations made by the Governor in Cabinet for the purpose of regulating the procedure to be followed.
The Governor in Cabinet may make regulations requiring the Department to monitor the arrangements it has made with a view to ensuring that it complies with any regulations made for the purposes of subsection (3).
Where any representation has been considered under the procedure established by the Department under this section, the Department shall —
have regard to the findings of those considering the representation; and
take such steps as are reasonably practicable to notify in writing —
the person making the representation;
the child (if the Department considers that he has sufficient understanding); and
such other persons (if any) as appear to the Department to be likely to be affected, of the Department's decision in the matter and its reasons for taking that decision and of any action which it has taken, or propose to take.
The Department shall, by notice in the Gazette, publish the principles of the procedure for considering the representations under this section.