Care Proceedings Solicitors

Social Services Involvement

We can help you when social services first contact you. Whenever possible, we will join you in meetings and represent you in court. We will also help you apply for legal aid if you are eligible.

We have experience representing parents and other family members in all sorts of situations which lead to care proceedings. These include cases where the local authority worries that children are being neglected. They also involve family members accused of hurting or abusing children.

Contact us or call us on 0114 2496693 to book your appointment today to discuss if legal aid is an option for you.

What Happens in Care Proceedings?

Care proceedings are court proceedings issued by the children’s/social services department of the local authority. To start the process, the local authority will apply to protect a child from harm. This is usually an application for a Care Order or Supervision Order. People call these care proceedings.

Read our comprehensive guide on care proceedings.

Pre-Proceedings

To start the pre-proceedings process, children’s services need to send a ‘letter before proceedings.’ This letter goes to the child’s parents or anyone who has parental responsibility.

Letter Before Proceedings

A ‘letter before proceedings’ will include:

• The concerns the children’s services have.
• Changes they would like the parent or carer to make.
• Information about any assessments or courses children’s services think parents should be involved in.
• Any support children’s services can put in place.
• Invite the parent or carer to a pre-proceeding meeting with the parent’s solicitor to discuss those concerns.

At this stage you should seek representation from a care proceedings solicitor. A solicitor will review the letter with you and offer advice. The solicitor’s fees are covered by legal aid for this service. Contact us today on 0114 249 6693 to discuss if legal aid is an option for you.

Pre-Proceedings or PLO (Public Law Outline) meeting

A pre-proceedings meeting is an important part of the care proceedings. This meeting is a final attempt in preventing the matter going to court.

The meeting will be attended by the parents, children’s services, and your solicitor. It will be made clear to the parents what is expected of them to reduce the concerns held by children’s services. The purpose of the pre-proceedings meeting is to agree a plan.

Read our comprehensive guide on care proceedings.

Contact us or call us on 0114 2496693 to book your appointment today.

Going to Court

At the beginning of the court process, social services may ask the family court for a temporary order. They do this if they are concerned about your children. If the court agrees, children’s services can take your child into temporary foster care. They can also place your child with a family member.

Over the following months after the first hearing, social workers and other professionals will assess you and your children. They will make suggestions to the court about the best outcome for your child in the long term.

The court will then hear these final suggestions. They will decide what orders, if any, should be made. This includes where the children should live and what contact they should have with family members.

Contact us or call us on 0114 2496666 to book your appointment today.

Legal Aid Funding for Care Proceedings

Legal aid is the use of public funds to help to pay for legal advice. If you are a parent and your child is in care proceedings or a PLO meeting, you can get free legal aid.

For other types of children proceedings, there may be considerations for legal aid entitlement, such as:

Scope – the type of case you are involved with must be on the list of cases that the government says may be funded by legal aid.

Means – An assessment of your financial circumstances may be required to check that you are eligible for legal aid.

Merits – the legal aid agency checks if you have a case to argue. They look for a good chance of success. They also consider if a reasonable person would pay for the case with their own money.

Whether your children case is eligible for legal aid depends on the type of case. This can include care proceedings representation, contact with a child in care and discharge/variation of a care/supervision order.

Our care proceedings solicitors can help with talking to social services, attending planning meetings, and representing you at Court. Speak to one of our children law specialists today.

Contact us or call us on 0114 2496693 to book your appointment today.

Care Proceedings Frequently Asked Questions

Social services have contacted me – What should I do?

Anyone can raise concerns about a child’s wellbeing. This includes friends, family members, teachers, doctors, neighbors, or even strangers. When Children’s Services, part of Social Services, is called in the UK, they must investigate these concerns by law. Initially you be contacted by social services to arrange for an assessment to take place.

When social services first contact you, call Howells Solicitors at 0114 249 6693. They can give you confidential advice on what to do next.

I’ve received a social service ‘letter before proceedings’ – what should I do?

You should contact Howells Solicitors on 0114 249 6693 where you can receive confidential advice on what you should do next. We can talk to social services for you. We can also represent you at meetings and court proceedings. We will always fully explain your next stages, and help you understand your legal rights.

How Long Do Care Proceedings Take?

It can take up to 26 weeks, or 6 months, for a court to decide what will happen to your child. If the case is more complex, it may take longer.

Social Services are Involved with My Family, Will I Get Legal Aid?

Yes. Legal aid is available, before and during court proceedings.