It may be that Children Schools and Families (CSF)/ Social Services, have become involved with your family due to concerns regarding you and your ability to parent your child(ren). This can be an extremely worrying and serious time for any parent or family member and it is important that you seek immediate advice. We have experienced members of our Family Team who specialise in advising, assisting and representing parents and other family members in these circumstances.
It may be that CSF want to place your child(ren) on the Child Protection Register. We can offer you advice and attend the child protection conference with you.
You might have received a letter before action, which sets out the social worker’s concerns about your children and invites you to attend a meeting with a solicitor to discuss these concerns. At this meeting you will be told whether the Local Authority plan to take your case to Court in order to apply for care or supervision orders regarding your child(ren). Again it is essential that you attend and we can advise you and attend these meetings with you.
If your case is put before the Court we have experienced solicitors who can represent you at these hearings and fully advise and assist you throughout the course of these proceedings.
If your children have already been removed from your care, we can offer advice about this also, including issues of contact with the child(ren) in care.
You may be an extended family member who wishes to be assessed or apply for an order for the child(ren) in care to move to your care in these types of cases. We can offer you advice and represent you on applications for Residence Orders, Special Guardianship Orders and as a Kinship carer.
Public funding is available to parents, children or parties with parental responsibility regardless of their means in these proceedings.
Our Family Team is headed up by Martin Oldham who is a member of the Law Society Children Panel, who specialises in these proceedings.
For further information or advice please call 01462 895444 to make an appointment to see one of our specialist Family Team members.