What is an accommodated child?

Parents may agree to having their child removed or ‘accommodated’ by Children's Services under section 20 of the Children Act 1989, while an investigation and assessment is carried out. Children's Services will not have parental responsibility for the child if they are accommodated this way; the parents retain full and exclusive parental responsibility. Children's Services have a duty to let the parents know where the child is and maintain contact between the child and the parent.

Return to free factsheets or browse our legal terms glossary.