Cap. 602 Art. 55Functions of the Director Alternative Care (Children and Youths). 

(1) Without prejudice to any other function or responsibility given to the Director Alternative Care (Children and

Youths) in accordance with this Act or any other law, the Director

Alternative Care (Children and Youths) under this Act shall:



(a) match foster carers with minors who are to be placed under foster care in accordance with article 50;

(b) make any reasonable attempt to place siblings with the same foster carer if this is in the best interest of the siblings;

(c) make any reasonable attempt to place a parent who is a minor and his offspring with the same foster carer;

(d) ascertain that every placement under foster care is in the best interest of the minor;

(e) follow up on all placements under foster care which have been occasioned through it and provide support to the foster carers throughout such placement under foster care;

(f) consider and propose changes, if needed, to any foster care agreement;

(g) investigate complaints against a foster carer in accordance with the manual or procedures mentioned in article 56 and make a report to be referred to the Fostering Board for any required action; and

(h) investigate any abuse allegations related to foster care placements in accordance with the manual or procedures referred to in article 56 and make a report to the competent authority as may be required.

(2) The Director Alternative Care (Children and Youths) shall also have the following functions:

(a) the provision of services in accordance with criteria, procedures and guidelines established by the Central Authority and in accordance with those standards of service therein established;

(b) the receipt and processing of applications by persons applying to be registered as foster carers;

(c) the provision of initial and on-going training to prospective foster carers and foster carers registered with it, as well as providing them with adequate and continuous support when the Director Alternative Care (Children and Youths) places a minor under foster care with the foster carers;

(d) providing the Central Authority with access to any document relating to the foster care procedures of any minor, inclusive of reports on any foster carer or prospective foster carer;

(e) providing the Central Authority with access to its accounts and to accounts as audited by an auditor;

(f) sending of a report to the Central Authority on the exercise of its functions at the end of each calendar year;

(g) conforming with any other function as may be specified by the Central Authority.

(3) Without prejudice to any other function or responsibility given to them in accordance with this Act or any other law, every agency accredited in accordance with this Act shall also have the functions listed in sub-article (2).