To what extent does the Children Act 1989 achieve its aim of Essay

To what extent does the Children Act 1989 achieve its aim of protecting children that have been or may be harmed by their families - Essay Example Once the child goes into care, there is no doubt that the legal effect is that the local authority gains parental responsibility for the child while the order is effectively in force. It should be noted that a care order automatically brings to an end any residence order that may exist. The Children Act 1989 contains provisions relating to the services that a local authority must or may provide for children and their families. It’s very important to note that for the first time services for children in need and disabled children are brought together under one statute. The government’s voice in protecting the children is very loud and clear. There is no doubt that the Children Act 1989 came into being specifically for the protection of children, and the intention of parliament seems to have been obvious. â€Å"To safeguard and promote the welfare of children in their area who are in need; and so far as is consistent with that duty to promote the up bringing of such children by their families, by providing a range and level of services appropriate to those† â€Å"(a) he is unlikely to achieve or maintain, or to have the opportunity of achieving or maintaining a reasonable standard of health or development without the provision of him of services by a local authority under this part; In cases where a particular local authority has information regarding a child likely to suffer harm outside its area, it is expected to inform the local authority in the area where the child lives or proposes to live. Guidance and Regulations 2008 adds: â€Å"If the child is assessed as being in need and the local authority is concerned that the child is suffering, or is at risk of suffering, significant harm, the authority is under a duty to make, as soon as practicable and, in any event, within 48 hours of the authority receiving the information, such enquiries as it considers necessary to enable it to decide whether it should take action to safeguard or promote the welfare