Children and Young Persons Bill [HL]

I support all that has been said, as I do the principle behind the amendments. However, there must be a clear understanding that when a child is in a placement together with two or three other children over several years, although those other children may not be blood kin, they can be as important as any sibling. Therefore, the extent of the relationship that children have with one another is important, and that must be respected. Earlier today, I was with the noble Lord, Lord Judd, and heard that some children who had been placed together for many years and were very attached to one another were given just one week’s notice that they were to be separated. If the approach by the local authority is too legalistic and it says, ““Well, these children are not blood kin, so we do not need to apply this law””, that will not be helpful. It needs to be made clear, perhaps in guidance, that that is the intention.