Delegated authority, consent, and the legal shorthand people use

This guide is here because carers are often asked to make decisions at speed, with half the information, and a child who just wants you to be the grown up who can say yes. Pick your nation first, because the labels and law are different, then use this to sense-check what usually sits where. Always check the child’s plan and delegated authority record.

Usually delegated Needs PR Social worker Court sometimes

England

Scotland

Wales

Northern Ireland

The big idea, who can actually consent

England

This version uses the Children Act 1989 (England).

Foster carers do not have parental responsibility (PR). Any authority you have to agree to things comes from delegated authority, usually written into the placement plan and delegated authority agreement.

Voluntary accommodation is often called “Section 20” or “accommodated”. Under Section 20, the local authority does not automatically hold PR, so consent often still sits with parents or others with PR, unless the young person can consent for themselves.

Care Orders matter because the local authority shares PR under a Care Order, which usually makes decision routes clearer and quicker.

Common documents: Placement plan Delegated authority record Health plan Family time plan

Legal shorthand you might hear, plain English

England

Section 17, Child in Need Support plan +

In plain English: Extra support from the local authority because a child’s needs are not being met without services.

Why carers should care: You may hear about plans and meetings, but this is not automatically a Child Protection process.

Section 47, Child Protection enquiries Harm concerns +

In plain English: Enquiries start when professionals suspect significant harm, or risk of it.

Why carers should care: Information sharing speeds up, and professionals focus on immediate safety and protective action.

Section 20, voluntary accommodation (often called accommodated) Needs PR +

In plain English: The child is looked after by agreement, not by a court order.

Why it matters for consent: The local authority does not automatically have PR, so consent often sits with parents or others with PR, unless the young person can consent themselves.

Carer move: Ask for written clarity on what you can consent to, and what must go back to the social worker or parents with PR.

Section 31 and Section 38, care proceedings and Interim Care Orders Court sometimes +

In plain English: The court can make orders about where the child lives and who can make decisions. Interim orders are temporary while the case is ongoing.

Why carers should care: Decision routes are usually clearer, but you should still check what is delegated to you in writing.

Common decisions carers get asked about

England

These examples are written in plain English. What changes is who can consent, which depends on legal status and what is written as delegated authority. When in doubt, pause and get it confirmed in writing.

Vaccinations and immunisations Usually delegated Needs PR +

Typical examples: Flu jab, MMR catch-up, HPV at school, travel vaccines.

Often delegated

Routine vaccinations where the plan says you can consent.
Booking appointments and attending with the child.

Often needs someone with PR

Where the child is accommodated under Section 20 and the young person cannot consent themselves, consent often needs to come from a parent or another person with PR.
If there is disagreement, it should go back through the social worker and health professionals.

Carer move: Ask for delegated authority to be written clearly for immunisations, so you are not guessing when the school nurse hands you a consent form.

Medical treatment, from GP visits to surgery Usually delegated Social worker +

Typical examples: Antibiotics, dental treatment, blood tests, x-rays, referrals, minor procedures, general anaesthetic.

Often delegated: Day-to-day appointments, routine medication, basic examinations, if your plan says so.

Often escalated: Surgery, general anaesthetic, complex treatment, and anything contentious, especially under Section 20.

Carer move: Keep a note of who to contact out of hours, and what to do if a hospital asks, “Who has parental responsibility?”.

School life, trips, photos, and day-to-day permissions Usually delegated +

Typical examples: Local school trips, clubs, PE kit, school photos, homework apps, swimming lessons.

Often delegated: Routine school permissions so the child can live as normally as possible, if delegated authority covers it.

Watch-outs: Some schools treat photo consent and online platforms as “data consent”, so it is worth clarifying in the plan.

Travel outside the UK, holidays, and passports Needs PR Social worker Court sometimes +

Typical examples: Holiday abroad, school trip abroad, applying for a passport.

Often needs PR: Permission to take a child abroad is commonly expected to be backed by a person with PR and coordinated by the social worker.

Carer move: Do not book anything non-refundable until you have written confirmation of consent and the plan.

Family time and changing arrangements Social worker Needs PR +

Typical examples: Changing the venue, cancelling a session, increasing or reducing family time, allowing informal time with extended family.

Usually not a carer-only decision: Family time is a safeguarding and legal planning area, so changes should go through the social worker, and sometimes the court if proceedings are underway.

Carer move: You can record impact and raise concerns quickly, but avoid changing arrangements on your own unless there is immediate safety risk and you are following an agreed emergency plan.

This resource is general guidance for carers in England. It is not legal advice. Always check the child’s placement plan and delegated authority agreement, because local arrangements and court orders can add extra rules. If a professional asks you for consent and you are unsure, pause, ask what the decision is, what the urgency is, and who holds parental responsibility in this child’s legal status.

The big idea, who can actually consent

Scotland

This version uses Scotland’s terminology and law. You will hear different labels than England, and you will often hear people talk about parental responsibilities and rights (PRRs).

Carers usually do not hold PRRs. Your authority comes from what is delegated to you in the child’s plan and the delegated authority record.

Voluntary accommodation is commonly discussed as “Section 25 accommodation”. It is care away from home without a compulsory measure, and consent routes can depend on who holds PRRs and what is agreed in writing.

Compulsory measures exist (through the Children’s Hearings system). When a child is subject to compulsory measures, decision making can be clearer, but you should still check what is delegated to you in writing.

Common documents: Child’s plan Delegated authority record Health plan Family time plan

Labels you might hear, plain English

Scotland

Child in need support and planning Support plan +

In plain English: Help from services because a child’s needs are not being met without extra support.

Why carers should care: You may be asked for observations, meetings, and planning input, even when there is no child protection process.

Child protection investigation Harm concerns +

In plain English: A formal response when professionals suspect significant harm or serious risk.

Why carers should care: Information sharing increases, and immediate safety planning becomes the priority.

Section 25 accommodation, voluntary accommodation Often needs PRRs clarity +

In plain English: The local authority provides accommodation without a compulsory measure.

Why it matters for consent: Consent routes can depend on who holds PRRs, the child’s age and capacity, and what is delegated to you in writing.

Carer move: Ask for clear written delegated authority for health, school permissions, travel, haircuts, and online life, so you are not guessing.

Children’s Hearings and compulsory measures Formal decision making +

In plain English: Decisions about compulsory support and protection can be made through the Children’s Hearings system.

Why carers should care: You will often have clearer expectations around family time, safety planning, and decision routes, but day-to-day permissions still need to be delegated to you in writing.

Common decisions carers get asked about

Scotland

These examples are written in plain English. In Scotland, the key is to check PRRs and what is delegated to you in writing, rather than relying on England section numbers.

Vaccinations and immunisations Usually delegated Needs PRRs clarity +

Typical examples: Flu jab, MMR catch-up, HPV at school, travel vaccines.

Carer move: Ask for written clarity on whether you can consent to routine immunisations, and what must go back to the social worker or those holding PRRs.

Medical treatment, from GP visits to surgery Usually delegated Social worker +

Often delegated: Routine appointments and basic treatment if your delegated authority covers it.

Often escalated: Surgery, general anaesthetic, complex treatment, or any contentious decisions.

School life, trips, photos, and day-to-day permissions Usually delegated +

Often delegated: Routine permissions that support normal life, if delegated authority covers it.

Watch-outs: Photo consent and online platforms may need specific clarity in writing.

Travel, holidays, and passports Needs PRRs clarity Social worker +

Often needs escalation: Travel abroad and passports usually require clear agreement from those holding PRRs and involvement from the social worker.

Carer move: Do not book anything non-refundable until you have written confirmation.

Family time and changing arrangements Social worker +

Usually not a carer-only decision: Changes to family time should go through the social worker and be recorded within the plan.

Carer move: Record impact and raise concerns quickly, but avoid making unilateral changes unless there is immediate safety risk and you are following an agreed plan.

This resource is general guidance for carers in Scotland. It is not legal advice. Always check the child’s plan and delegated authority record. If a professional asks you for consent and you are unsure, pause, ask what the decision is, what the urgency is, and who holds parental responsibilities and rights for this child.

The big idea, who can actually consent

Wales

This version uses Wales terminology and the main legal labels used in practice.

Foster carers do not have parental responsibility (PR). Any authority you have to agree to things comes from delegated authority, written into the child’s plan and delegated authority agreement.

Voluntary accommodation in Wales is often “Section 76 accommodation”. Many professionals will still say “accommodated” in day-to-day conversation. Under voluntary accommodation, the local authority does not automatically hold PR, so consent often still sits with parents or others with PR, unless the young person can consent for themselves.

Child protection enquiries are still commonly described as “Section 47” because that part of the Children Act 1989 applies across England and Wales.

Common documents: Placement plan Delegated authority record Health plan Family time plan

Legal shorthand you might hear, plain English

Wales

Section 17, Child in Need Support plan +

In plain English: Extra support from the local authority because a child’s needs are not being met without services.

Why carers should care: You may hear about plans and meetings, but this is not automatically a child protection process.

Section 47, child protection enquiries Harm concerns +

In plain English: Enquiries start when professionals suspect significant harm, or risk of it.

Why carers should care: Information sharing speeds up, and professionals focus on immediate safety and protective action.

Section 76, voluntary accommodation (often called accommodated) Needs PR +

In plain English: The child is looked after by agreement, not by a court order.

Why it matters for consent: The local authority does not automatically have PR, so consent often sits with parents or others with PR, unless the young person can consent themselves.

Carer move: Ask for written clarity on what you can consent to, and what must go back to the social worker or parents with PR.

Care proceedings and interim orders Court sometimes +

In plain English: The court can make orders about where the child lives and who can make decisions. Interim orders are temporary while the case is ongoing.

Why carers should care: Decision routes are usually clearer, but you should still check what is delegated to you in writing.

Common decisions carers get asked about

Wales

These examples are written in plain English. In Wales, the biggest practical difference is that voluntary accommodation is usually referenced as Section 76, even if people casually say “accommodated”.

Vaccinations and immunisations Usually delegated Needs PR +

Carer move: Ask for written clarity on whether you can consent to routine immunisations, especially under voluntary accommodation.

Medical treatment, from GP visits to surgery Usually delegated Social worker +

Often delegated: Routine appointments and basic treatment if your delegated authority covers it.

Often escalated: Surgery, general anaesthetic, complex treatment, or any contentious decisions, particularly under voluntary accommodation.

School life, trips, photos, and day-to-day permissions Usually delegated +

Often delegated: Routine permissions that support normal life, if delegated authority covers it.

Watch-outs: Photo consent and online platforms may need specific clarity in writing.

Travel outside the UK, holidays, and passports Needs PR Social worker +

Often needs escalation: Travel abroad and passports usually require clear agreement from those with PR and involvement from the social worker.

Carer move: Do not book anything non-refundable until you have written confirmation.

Family time and changing arrangements Social worker Needs PR +

Usually not a carer-only decision: Changes to family time should go through the social worker and be recorded within the plan.

This resource is general guidance for carers in Wales. It is not legal advice. Always check the child’s plan and delegated authority agreement. If a professional asks you for consent and you are unsure, pause, ask what the decision is, what the urgency is, and who holds parental responsibility for this child.

The big idea, who can actually consent

Northern Ireland

This version uses the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995. Northern Ireland uses “Articles” rather than the England “Sections” shorthand.

Carers usually do not have parental responsibility (PR). Your authority comes from what is delegated to you in the child’s plan and delegated authority record.

Voluntary accommodation is usually “Article 21 accommodation”. Under voluntary accommodation, the local authority does not automatically hold PR, so consent often still sits with parents or others with PR, unless the young person can consent for themselves.

If the label confuses the conversation, ask for the plain-English answer: “Who holds PR, and what exactly is delegated to me in writing?”

Common documents: Placement plan Delegated authority record Health plan Family time plan

Labels you might hear, plain English

Northern Ireland

Child in need support and planning Support plan +

In plain English: Extra support from services because a child needs help to be safe and well.

Why carers should care: You may be asked for observations and involvement in planning, even where there is no child protection process.

Child protection investigation Harm concerns +

In plain English: A formal response when professionals suspect significant harm or serious risk.

Why carers should care: Safety planning becomes the priority, and information sharing increases.

Article 21, voluntary accommodation (often called accommodated) Needs PR +

In plain English: The child is looked after by agreement, not by a court order.

Why it matters for consent: The local authority does not automatically have PR, so consent often sits with parents or others with PR, unless the young person can consent for themselves.

Carer move: Ask for written clarity on what you can consent to, and what must go back to the social worker or parents with PR.

Court orders and formal decision making Court sometimes +

In plain English: The court can make orders that affect where a child lives and who can make decisions.

Why carers should care: Decision routes are often clearer, but you should still check what is delegated to you in writing.

Common decisions carers get asked about

Northern Ireland

These examples are written in plain English. In Northern Ireland, the key is to check who holds PR and what is delegated to you in writing, rather than relying on England section numbers.