If the child is being looked after by the local authority, the local authority has a duty to assess the needs of the child, the special guardian and the child’s parent(s).
Until the special guardianship order is made the local authority must continue with the responsibility of regular financial provisions.
A young person may be entitled to advice and assistance from the local authority ifhe or she is a ‘relevant child’. A child is considered to be a relevant child if he or she is aged between 16 and 17, and has been looked after by the local auhtority for at least 13 weeks since the age of 14 and has been looked after at some time after his or her 16th birthday and has now left care.
If a foster carer becomes a special guardian for a child that they were fostering, and if they previously received financial assistance through a fostering allowance, the foster parent can continue to receive financial assistance after the special guardianship order was made.
Once the special guardianship order is made, any child who was previously looked after by a local authority will no longer be looked after.
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