Commentary on Sections Children in long term care Section 19: support for accommodated children
92.Section 19 inserts paragraph 8A into Part 1 of Schedule 2 to the 1989 Act. Part 1 of Schedule 2 sets out the specific functions of the local authority in relation to the provision of services for children in need and their families under section 17 of the 1989 Act. New paragraph 8A provides that these services must include such services as the authority considers appropriate with respect to “accommodated children” (i.e. children in respect of whose accommodation the local authority have been notified under section 85 or 86 of the 1989 Act). Paragraph 8A(3) requires the local authority to provide these services with a view to promoting contact between the accommodated child and their family. The services may, in particular, include: advice, guidance and counselling; services necessary to enable the child to visit, or to be visited by, members of their family; and assistance to enable the child and members of their family to have a holiday together.