When Care Proceedings begin, one of the biggest concerns for parents and families can be how much contact they will have with their child. The law recognises how important these relationships are and contact arrangements must be carefully considered and set out from the very start of the case.
As part of the process, Children’s Services must prepare what is called an interim care plan. This is a temporary plan that explains where a child will live, who will care for them, how their needs will be met, and how they will stay in touch with their family during Proceedings. The plan is submitted to the Family Court, and it cannot be put into action until a judge has approved it.
Contact is sometimes referred to as ‘family time’. The arrangements can take many different forms. For some families, this means face-to-face visits several times a week, for others, it may mean telephone calls, video calls, letters, or a combination of these. The key principle is that contact should promote the child’s welfare and meet their individual needs.
In many cases, especially where there are concerns about safety or past harm, contact may be supervised. This means that a professional or a family member will be present during the visit, either in a contact centre or out in the community. Supervision provides reassurance for everyone involved and allows professionals to observe how contact is going. Sometimes contact may be ‘supported’ rather than fully supervised. This is a lighter level of monitoring, with someone nearby to help but not actively overseeing every interaction. Notes are often taken during supervised sessions, and these are shared with the Court and the parties’ solicitors so that both concerns and positives can be noted.
When a child is looked after under an Interim Care Order, Children’s Services have a duty to allow ‘reasonable contact’ with the parents and anyone else with parental responsibility. They cannot stop contact altogether unless the Family Court gives permission. In urgent situations, however, they can suspend contact for up to seven days if necessary to keep the child safe, but they must explain this in writing and inform both the parents and the child’s Independent Reviewing Officer. If there is a plan to suspend contact for more than seven days, the Local Authority must apply to the Family Court for permission to withhold contact.
The wider family is also important. Government guidance highlights that grandparents, other relatives and friends can provide a sense of belonging, and Children’s Services should support contact with them where it is in the child’s best interests.
There can also be practical challenges, for example, the cost of travel may make it difficult for parents to attend visits. In some cases, Children’s Services may help with expenses such as transport or activities, if not providing that support would cause financial hardship.
If a parent feels that contact is not working as it should there are steps they can take. Concerns can be raised with the social worker, with the Independent Reviewing Officer, or through their solicitor, who can bring the issue before the Court if needed.
Every case is different, but the principle is always the same: contact should protect the child’s welfare while helping preserve the vital bond between parent and child.
If you are worried about contact with your child during Care Proceedings, please get in touch with Johnson Astills to see how we can assist. Please call us at our office in Leicester on 0116 255 4855 or our office in Loughborough on 01509 610 312 and ask to speak to a member of the Care Team. Alternatively, you may prefer to email us at legal@johnsonastills.com or fill in our enquiry form.
