Commentary on Sections Part 4 – Provision of named persons Section 23 – Communication in relation to movement of children and young people
60.This section provides that where a service provider no longer provides named person service in relation to a child, they must provide the new service provider, or the person it considers will be the new service provider, with information it holds that is likely to be relevant in the exercise of any functions of the service provider under this Part, or the future exercise of the named person functions in relation to the child or young person, if it ought to be provided for that purpose and unless this information prejudices the conduct of a criminal investigation or the prosecution of an offence.
61.Subsection (4) provides that, when establishing whether information ought to be shared, the outgoing service provider is, so far as reasonably practicable, required to ascertain and have regard to the views of the child or young person. In having regard to the views of a child, the outgoing service provider is to take account of their age and maturity (subsection (5)).
62.Subsection (6) provides that the outgoing service provider can only decide that information ought to be shared, for the purpose of section 23(3)(b), if the likely benefit to a child or young person’s wellbeing in doing so outweighs any likely adverse effect on their wellbeing.
63.Subsection (7) makes it clear that section 23 does not permit or require the sharing of information in breach of any legal prohibition or restriction on the disclosure of information, except a duty of confidentiality.