local authorities

The annual report of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Education, Children's Services and Skills 2008/09

Report presenting the findings from annual inspections of childcare, children's social care, local authority services for children, schools, colleges, initial teacher education, adult learning, provision for young people in secure accommodation and the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service in England.

Making sense of human rights: a short introduction

Guide designed for officials in public authorities to assist them in working with the Human Rights Act 1998, which has been described as the most important piece of constitutional legislation passed in the United Kingdom since the achievement of universal suffrage in 1918.

The guide is short and simple and offers a brief introduction to human rights for use in straightforward situations.

More detailed guidance can be found in the human rights handbook for public officials, Human Rights and Human Lives, produced by the Department for Constitutional Affairs.

Scotland's children: the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 Regulations and Guidance : Volume 3 - adoption and parental responsibilities orders

This is the third of four volumes of comprehensive guidance on the Children (Scotland) Act 1995. The Regulations, Directions and Guidance which are included in this and the other volumes are designed to provide guidance on the implementation of Parts II, III and IV of the Act. Volume 3 sets out the policy and procedures relating to adoption of children and parental responsibilities orders including local authority responsibility.