Child Care Proceedings

For some families, there are occasions when the Local Authority has to intervene in Family Life. This usually occurs when they believe that a child is in need of protection as a result of:

• Neglect
• Abuse
• Or that a child is out of parental control.

What will Social Services do?
Social Services will often try to work with the family to resolve the problems. They will sometimes ask parents/carers to allow their children to be ‘looked after’ voluntarily by other family members or by Foster Carers while the parents are helped through their difficulties.

Having intervened, Social Services have a duty to hold regular reviews and meetings between parents Social Workers and other agencies such as, for example, Health Visitors, Nursery and School teachers or any other person involved with the child and decisions are made as to whether the children require a ‘Child Protection Plan’ or should be designated a ‘Child in Need’

Further meetings are held to monitor progress and put into place appropriate help, guidance, support and education to help the family and children.

In some cases Court Proceedings are issued by the Local Authority for Care or Supervision Orders and sometimes those orders are applied for on an Emergency basis.

How we can help in Child Care Proceedings.
Ellis-Fermor & Negus family law team has experienced lawyers who can offer experienced advice and represent you against Social Services.  Our involvement may include:

• Help and advice in connection with Case Conferences, Looked After Child  – ( LAC ) reviews, ‘Children in Need’ reviews and ‘Core Group’ Meetings.
• Representation in Court in Care Proceedings, Placement for Adoption Proceedings and Adoption Proceedings.
• Representation of parents and carers in connection with Contact with Children in Care etc.,

Will I get funding?
Ellis-Fermor & Negus family law teams acts for clients on both a publicly funded and privately funded basis. Details of our privately funded rates are available on request.

For clients who think they may be eligible for Legal Aid there is a Financial Eligibility Calculator on the Legal Services Commisssion website.  Click here.

Certain parties to Public Law Proceedings are able to access non-means, non- merits tested Legal Aid ie. ‘free’ Legal Aid. Further explanation and guidance is available on request.

Contact us