The local authority’s aim is to support families to enable children to stay in their parent’s care. They want to do everything possible to help you to support your child and meet your child’s needs.
Levels of intervention:
Professional Universal Services
Universal services are those provided to all individuals, not just those with specific needs e.g. Health Visitor, Midwife, GP/hospital, school. These services aim to support the general wellbeing of and needs of everyone in the community.
Child In Need/Early Help
Your child or family may need additional support from the local authority to achieve or maintain a reasonable standard of health or development due to family difficulties, poverty, disability, mental health, abuse or neglect, for example.
The local authority will assess your situation and devise a plan regarding any support that can be provided. The plan usually lasts around 12 months, but its duration can vary. This process is entirely voluntary.
Child Protection – Conferences and Core Group Meetings/Targeted Help
The local authority intervenes to safeguard your child who is at risk of or experiencing harm, abuse, neglect or exploitation. It is a multi-agency collaboration including, for example, education, health and police. The aim is to identify, assess and respond to concerns about your child’s safety and wellbeing. The goal is to support your family to improve your circumstances and strengthen your ability to care for your child and keep them safe.
There is an Initial Child Protection Conference to decide whether a Child Protection Plan is necessary. If so, there will be further Review Conferences approximately every 6 months. There are Core Group Meetings every 4 to 6 weeks to enable professionals to monitor the progress of the Child Protection Plan and ensure your child’s safety. You are obliged to attend these conferences and meetings.
Public Law Outline/Pre-Proceedings Process/Specialist Help
The local authority remains concerned about the care of your child and the impact their experiences are having on their safety and wellbeing. The local authority acknowledges that there are strengths in your parenting, which they would like to help you build on. It is an opportunity for you to work with the local authority to make the necessary changes within set timescales (approximately 12 – 16 weeks).
If you are unable to look after your child safely, the local authority may need to go to Court. If they do go to Court, the judge will think about what is best for your child and make decisions in relation to your child’s care. Where possible, the local authority would always want to avoid going to court. They set out in writing what it is you can do to prevent that from happening.
At this juncture, you require a legal representative to attend the meetings with you. This is where our approachable and experienced lawyers can assist you.
For further information on anything mentioned in this article, please contact Stephanie McAulay on 01392 260145 or email stephaniemcaulay@wbw.co.uk.
WBW Solicitors has offices in Axminster, Bovey Tracey, Brixham, Exeter, Exmouth, Honiton, Launceston, Newton Abbot, Paignton, Seaton, Sidmouth, and Torquay.
This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal or professional advice. Please note that the law may have changed since this article was published.
