Social Services Problems
Social Services Problems
Social Services Involvement with your Child/ren
Social services may become involved with your family if they believe that your child/ren are at risk of physical or emotional harm. This may be because of long standing difficulties within your family or as a result of an emergency. Often you will be asked to attend child protection conferences if Social Services are concerned about the welfare or safety of your child/ren. You may be asked to agree that your child/ren live with foster carers or Social Services may apply to court for a court order.
We can provide legal and practical advice and represent you in dealing with the following types of applications..
Emergency Protection Orders/Police Protection Orders
An Order which allows Social Services or the Police to remove your child/ren from your care for a short period if they think that your child/ren needs urgent protection.
Supervision Orders
An Order which allows the Social Services to supervise your care of your child/ren and provide any support and assistance that is deemed necessary for the duration of the Order. The making of a Supervision Order does not entitle Social Services to share Parental Responsibility in respect of your child/ren.
These can be extremely complex proceedings and progress in different ways and involve many parties and complex assessments.
We can provide
- Legal representation to deal with these applications
- Support to parents by attending child/ren Protection Conferences arranged by Social Services.
- Support to parents and other relatives in relation to contact with child/ren in care.
- The Local Authority is under a duty to undertake assessments of suitable and willing family members prior to placing a child/ren in to foster care. We will advise you on whether it is appropriate for them to be joined as a party to the proceedings.
All persons who have acquired parental responsibility for a child/ren involved in care proceedings are entitled to legal aid.