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| | | “(h) | the desirability of reasonable contact between the child and the |
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| | | non-resident parent in the absence of good reason to the |
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| | | Risk assessments: screening |
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| | To move the following Clause:— |
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| | | ‘(1) | After section 8 of the Children Act 1989 (c. 41) insert— |
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| | | (1) | On receipt of any application under section 8 of the court shall direct that |
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| | | the relevant pre-court checks are undertaken to screen for indicators of |
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| | | risk to the child’s safety and well-being. |
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| | | (2) | The court may ask an officer of the Service or a Welsh family |
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| | | proceedings officer to undertake any checks for the screening required by |
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| | | (3) | It shall be the duty of an officer of the Service or a Welsh family |
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| | | proceedings officer to comply with a request from the court under |
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| | | (4) | A court shall not make an order under section 8 until it has considered the |
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| | | results of the screening required by subsection (1) and is satisfied that the |
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| | | arrangements will be safe for the child. |
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| | | (5) | Pre-court checks to screen for indicators of risk required by subsection |
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| | | (1) and any subsequent risk assessments under section 16A shall be |
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| | | undertaken in accordance with the Code of Practice issued under section |
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| | | (1) | The Secretary of State shall prepare, and from time to time revise, a Code |
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| | | of Practice regarding screening for indicators of risk and regarding risk |
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| | | assessment as required by section 16A. |
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| | | (2) | Before preparing the Code of Practice or making any alteration in it the |
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| | | Secretary of State shall consult such bodies as appear to him to be |
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| | | (3) | The Secretary of State shall lay copies of the Code and of any alteration |
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| | | in the Code before Parliament; and if either House of Parliament passes |
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| | | a resolution requiring the Code or any alteration to be withdrawn the |
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| | | Secretary of State shall withdraw the Code, and where he withdraws the |
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| | | Code, shall prepare a Code in substitution for the Code which was |
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| | | (4) | No resolution shall be passed above in respect of a Code or any alteration |
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| | | after the expiration of the period of 40 days beginning with the day on |
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| | | which a copy of the Code or alteration was laid before that House; but for |
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| | | the purpose of this subsection no account shall be taken of any time |
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| | | during which Parliament is dissolved or prorogued or during which both |
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| | | Houses are adjourned for more than four days. |
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| | | (5) | The Secretary of State shall publish the Code as for the time being in |
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| | To move the following Clause:— |
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| | | ‘The Children Act 1989 (c. 41) shall be amended as follows— |
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| | | (a) | In section 10(5)(b) leave out “three years” and insert “one year”, |
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| | | (b) | In section 10(10) leave out “three years” and insert “one yea r”, and |
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| | | (c) | in section 10(10) leave out “five years” and insert “three years”.’. |
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| | | Contact orders: meeting with mediator |
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| | To move the following Clause:— |
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| | | ‘After section 8 of the Children Act 1989 (c. 41) insert—
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| | | “8A Contact orders: meeting with mediator |
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| | | Applications for a contact order under section 8 must be stayed, unless by order |
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| | | of the court, until the applicant has attended a meeting with a mediator and the |
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| | | mediator has certified that mediation is not suitable to resolve the issue which is |
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| | | the subject of the application.”’. |
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| | | Bill, as amended, to be reported. |
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