ABSTRACT
This chapter looks at the background to, and the main principles underlying, the provisions relating to family support services in part III and schedule 2 of the Children Act 1989. It sets out the relevant duties and powers of local authorities. The chapter explains and focuses on the provisions about charging for services and about contributions to the cost of children being looked after by the local authority. A combination of services provided by the statutory and voluntary sectors can ensure a wider choice of options for children and families, and greater flexibility in meeting the needs of individual children. Local authorities are under a duty to identify the extent to which there are children in need within their area. In order to carry out this task local authorities need to work with other agencies – both statutory and voluntary – in collecting information about the local area.
