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Consultation on Special Guardianship Regulations

Friday, 24 January 2014

The Department of Social Care (DSC) is launching a consultation to invite comments on draft Special Guardianship Regulations made under the Children & Young Persons (Amendment) Act 2011, a Private Members Bill brought forward by Mr Quirk MHK.

The Children & Young Persons (Amendment) Act 2011 introduces a further legal option for children who cannot be looked after by their parents – Special Guardianship Orders.

Special Guardianship Orders:

  • Give the carer clear responsibility for all aspects of caring for the child and for taking the decisions to do with their upbringing.
  •  Provide a firm foundation on which to build a lifelong permanent relationship between the child and their carer;
  •  Is legally secure;
  •  Preserve the basic link between the child and their birth family; and
  •  Are accompanied by access to a range of support services including, where appropriate, financial support.

The Regulations are required to set out further information in relation to Special Guardianship and detail:

  •  Who may apply for a special guardianship order
  •  The circumstances in which a special guardianship order may be made;
  •  The nature and effect of special guardianship orders; and
  •  Access to financial support and support services for those affected by special guardianship.

The consultation will run for four weeks ending at 5pm on Friday 21 February 2014.
More information about Special Guardianship and the Regulations are available:

  •  On the Department’s website 
  •  Or by picking up a paper copy of the consultation document from the Department of Social Care, or Tynwald Library.

To submit your comments;

Sian Scott

Department of Health and Social Care

Markwell House

Market Street

Douglas

IM1 2RZ

Email:Send Email

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