6E.— (1) A qualifying guardian may nominate a person to be, in the event that the qualifying guardian becomes incapable through serious illness or injury of exercising the rights and responsibilities of guardianship, temporary guardian of the child concerned.

(2) The nomination under subsection (1) of a person to be a temporary guardian shall—

(a) be in writing, in such form as may be prescribed, and

(b) specify such limitations (if any) as the qualifying guardian wishes to impose on the rights and responsibilities of guardianship that the temporary guardian, if appointed under this section, may exercise.

(3) Where a qualifying guardian who has nominated a person under subsection (1), or a person so-nominated (in this section referred to as the "nominated person"), is of opinion that the qualifying guardian is incapable through serious illness or injury of exercising the rights and responsibilities of guardianship, that guardian or nominated person may apply to the court for an order under this section.

(4) An application under subsection (3) shall be on notice to—

(a) each guardian of the child, including, where the application is made by the nominated person, the qualifying guardian concerned,

(b) where the application is made by the qualifying guardian concerned, the nominated person,

(c) a parent (if any) of the child who is not the child’s guardian, and

(d) the Child and Family Agency.

(5) The court, on hearing an application under subsection (3), and having regard to the views (if any) of the persons referred to in subsection (4), may make an order appointing the nominated person to be a temporary guardian of the child concerned where, and only where, it is satisfied that—

(a) the qualifying guardian concerned is incapable through serious illness or injury of exercising the rights and responsibilities of guardianship,

(b) the nominated person is a fit and proper person to exercise the rights and responsibilities specified in subsection (8), and

(c) it is in the best interests of the child concerned for the nominated person to become the temporary guardian of the child.

(6) An order under subsection (5) may impose—

(a) such limitations on the exercise by the temporary guardian of the rights and responsibilities of guardianship, and

(b) such conditions relating to the periodic review by the court of the appointment of the person as temporary guardian,

as the court considers necessary in the best interests of the child concerned.

(7) In imposing limitations or conditions under subsection (6), the court shall have regard to the limitations specified by the qualifying guardian under subsection (2).

(8) Subject to the terms of the order concerned under subsection (5), a person appointed to be temporary guardian—

(a) may exercise the rights and responsibilities of guardianship in respect of the child concerned,

(b) shall take custody of the child concerned, and

(c) shall act jointly with any other guardian of the child concerned, including the qualifying guardian concerned.

(9) A temporary guardian shall, and the qualifying guardian concerned may, where he or she is of opinion that the qualifying guardian is no longer incapable of exercising the rights and responsibilities of guardianship, apply to the court for an order under subsection (11).

(10) An application under subsection (9) shall be on notice to—

(a) each guardian of the child concerned, including, where the application is made by a temporary guardian, the qualifying guardian concerned,

(b) any parent of the child who is not the child’s guardian, and

(c) the Child and Family Agency.

(11) The court, on hearing an application under subsection (9), may make an order—

(a) confirming that the appointment of the temporary guardian shall continue in force,

(b) to the effect that the qualifying guardian is capable of exercising the rights and responsibilities of guardianship and revoking the appointment of the temporary guardian, or

(c) to the effect that the qualifying guardian shall have specified rights and responsibilities of guardianship and that the other rights and responsibilities of guardianship shall be exercised by the qualifying guardian and temporary guardian jointly.

(12) An order under subsection (11) may—

(a) specify the period for which it shall remain in effect,

(b) impose such conditions relating to the periodic review by the court of the order as the court considers necessary in the best interests of the child concerned, and

(c) provide for such additional matters as the court considers necessary in the best interests of the child concerned.

(13) In considering an application under subsection (3) or (9), the court shall ensure that the child concerned, to the extent possible given his or her age and understanding, has the opportunity to make his or her views on the matter known, and the court shall take account of those views.]