Definition: ‘Children in need’ is the term used in the Children Act 1989 to describe children who need services that will allow them to be brought up within their families, and that local authorities have powers and duties to provide. Section 17 Children Act 1989 states that a child in need is a child who is unlikely to achieve or maintain a reasonable level of health or development, or their health and development is likely to be significantly impaired or further impaired, without the provision of services. This definition does not apply in Wales after April 2016 when the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 comes into effect.

Category: CYP

Credit: Cardiff University

Source: https://sites.cardiff.ac.uk/childrens-social-care-law/glossary/