Part 1: Children Chapter 1: Looked after children Section 8: Care orders: permanence provisions
This section amends the definition of ‘permanence provisions’ as it appears in section 31 of the Children Act 1989. In addition to considering the matters currently included in section 31(3B) of that Act, the courts will also be required to consider such provisions of the child’s care plan that set out: (i) the impact on the child concerned of any harm they have suffered (or were likely to have suffered); (ii) the child’s current and future needs (including needs arising from that impact) ; and (iii) the way in which the long-term plan for the child's upbringing would meet those current and future needs.
	A requirement for local authorities to provide for the matters mentioned in (i) to (iii) above as part of the child’s care plan will be set out in the regulations made under section 31A of the Children Act 1989.