Jenny Jackson When parents cannot agree about arrangements for their children, the Family Court may need further information before deciding what is in a child’s best interests. One way of obtaining this information is through a Section 7 report.
When a child cannot safely remain in the care of their parents, the Court will need to consider what arrangement best meets their needs. In some cases, a Special Guardianship Order (SGO) may allow a child to
When Care Proceedings are issued, the Court’s primary concern is ensuring the safety and welfare of the child. In some cases, there may be significant disagreement about important events or allegations that are central to the case.
Concerns around drug use and alcohol use are common in Care Proceedings and Child Protection work. Parents are often worried about what professionals may already know, how concerns will be investigated and whether past difficulties with drugs
If you are involved in Care Proceedings, you may hear professionals talking about ‘threshold’ being met. In simple terms threshold is the legal test that the Court must be satisfied about before it can make Care or
Each March, International Women’s Day provides an opportunity to reflect on progress made towards gender equality while recognising the challenges that remain. In the legal profession, one continuing concern is the number of talented women leaving their
Parents involved in Care Proceedings will almost always be told about the “26-week” timetable”. The law is clear that Care Proceedings should usually be concluded within 26 weeks, or around six months, from the date the application
When social services have serious concerns about a child’s safety or a parent’s ability to meet their needs, the Court may consider a residential parenting assessment. This involves the parent and their baby or young child staying
When a Local Authority issues Care Proceedings, the Court must ensure that all parties can participate effectively in the process. One crucial consideration is whether a parent has the mental capacity to understand, engage with and instruct
Domestic abuse can have a significant impact on every part of family life, including when Children’s Services become involved. Many parents worry that asking for help will mean that their children are taken away, but in most
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
If social services are involved with your family, you may be asked to take part in a Parenting Assessment. This is a detailed process where professionals look at how well you meet your child’s needs and whether
If you are a parent going through Care Proceedings, drug testing might be something that the Court asks you to do. One newer test you might hear about is called Patch Testing. It is important to understand
Being involved in Care Proceedings is often one of the most stressful experiences a parent or guardian can face. When your family life is under scrutiny of the Family Court, it is natural to want to talk
Child protection conferences are an important part of the child safeguarding process. When professionals suspect that a child is at risk of significant harm, a Child Protection Conference may be arranged to assess the situation, create a
Exploring Family Placement Options in Care Proceedings: Special Guardianship Orders, Child Arrangement Orders, and Kinship Fostering When a child is unable to remain in the care of their birth parents, there are several options for family placements
The involvement of social services in a family’s life can be distressing, especially when parents fear that their child might be taken away. The fear of having your child “stolen” by social services is a common concern,
