Commentary on Sections Part 11 – Subsequent Children’s Hearings Section 120 – Powers of children’s hearing on deferral under section 119
177.This section applies when the Children’s Hearing defers making a decision on whether to make a compulsory supervision order in relation to the child. Subsection (2) provides for the making of an interim compulsory supervision order where the child was not already subject to an interim compulsory supervision order immediately prior to the hearing and the hearing considers that the nature of the child’s circumstances is such that it is necessary for the protection, guidance, treatment or control of the child. Subsection (3) makes clear that the hearing may only make such an order if the hearing considers that circumstances are urgent.
178.Subsections (4) and (5) make similar provision for the hearing to make a further interim compulsory supervision order where a child was subject to an interim order immediately prior to the hearing. Where an order has been in place previously, then the urgency in the situation should have been removed due to the effect of the order, for example, a child may already be in a place of safety as a condition of an interim order. However, it may be necessary to continue the order meantime to ensure that the child’s circumstances do not deteriorate pending a substantive decision. As such the test for the making of a further interim order is not that the child’s circumstances are such that urgent action is required but that the order continues to be necessary for the protection, guidance, treatment or control of the child. Subsection (6) provides for the Children’s Hearing to make a medical examination order if it is necessary to obtain further information or to carry out further investigation before making a substantive decision. A child may, for example, be required to reside in an assessment centre, attend an educational psychologist or be subject to a medical examination.