ABSTRACT
When the Children Act came into force in October 1991, it was hailed as the most comprehensive reform in living memory and one which would bring about a new beginning to the philosophy and practices of the child care system. The Act is divided into 12 separate parts and has 108 sections and 15 schedules, and applies to England and Wales. Important procedural and jurisdictional changes are made to the way courts deal with cases to enable them to take a more proactive supervisory role in proceedings and control how local authorities carry out their duties. New principles and concepts are introduced to provide greater coherence to court decisions and encourage greater consistency, clarity and a more systematic approach to decision-making. A court's power to order welfare reports has been extended by the Act. A key theme in the Act is that of partnership between local authorities, parents and children.
