Commentary on Sections Accommodation
32.Every local authority should have a plan for the future care of each child it looks after. Care plans should describe the child’s needs, set out the services that will be provided to meet those needs and the local authority’s long term plan for the child. The care plan should include amongst other things:
	proposed placement (type and details);
	other services to be provided to the child or family either by the local authority or other agencies;
	the health plan;
	the Personal Education Plan; and
	dates of scheduled reviews of the care plan.
33.Whenever decisions are taken that affect the child, their wishes and feelings must be ascertained and given due consideration, in addition to the wishes and feelings of their parents and carers (section 22 of the 1989 Act). Due consideration must also be given to the child’s religious persuasion, racial origin and cultural and linguistic background. Care plans must be reviewed in accordance with regulations i.e. the first review must be within 4 weeks of the date on which the child begins to be looked after, the second review must be within 3 months after that date, and subsequently at intervals of no more than 6 months.
34.The content of care plans and arrangements for reviews is determined by a combination of regulations. In England, these are the Arrangement for Placement of Children (General) Regulations 1991 and the Review of Children’s Cases Regulations 1991, made under the 1989 Act. In relation to Wales, the Placement of Children (Wales) Regulations 2007 and the Review of Children’s Cases (Wales) Regulations 2007 apply.
35.Amendments to arrangements for care planning and review are made by the provisions in Part 2 of the Act.