Legal Help is provided by the Legal Aid Agency in some circumstances, subject to a means test. We are happy to have an initial discussion with you free of charge to discuss how we may able to help.
Legal Aid is always available for parents of children who are being taken to court by social services”. Find out more about Legal Aid.
Social Services Investigations happen for a number of reasons. Sometimes a referral is made by the children’s health visitor or school if there are concerns that a family may need additional support. In other cases, there may be concerns about parental alcohol or drug misuse or mental health problems and child neglect or abuse.
In these circumstances, the local authority may get in touch with you and may conduct an investigation.
It can be very worrying to become involved with Social Services, particularly if you have no experience of this. It is very important that you feel able to work openly and honestly with Social Services to ensure that you get the best outcome for you and your family. We are able to help by providing you with initial advice and we may be able to support you under the Legal Help scheme to explain your rights, communicate effectively with Social Services and safeguard your family.
In some circumstances a social worker may decide to convene a Child Protection Conference and invite you to a meeting with all of the professionals involved with your child. The purpose of this meeting is to enable all professionals to understand the concerns that may be held for your child and to agree a plan to ensure that you are properly supported and your child is kept safe. We appreciate that this can be quite a daunting process and we are able to provide you with advice concerning the Child Protection Conference and Plan.
In many cases involvement with Social Services does not go beyond an initial assessment, or Child Protection Conference. If matters escalate we are able to assist you with meetings with Social Services pre-proceedings and court proceedings.
Several of our care solicitors are on the Law Society's Children Panel. Only solicitors who meet the Law Society’s exacting accreditation requirements are permitted to join the Children Panel and represent children in public law care proceedings.
Our experts in public law care proceedings can provide you with support and guidance throughout the care proceeding's process. We are specialists in cases involving non-accidental injury and child neglect.
Legal 500 - Recommend Lawyer 2024
Our Care team have been included in the prestigious Legal 500 for many years with Vince Beckworth and Jason Burnett named “Recommended Lawyers” for their continued commitment to providing high quality, customer- focused legal services to clients.
“Vince Beckworth leads the busy care proceedings team where he is highly regarded for his representation of parents, family members and interveners in children’s care proceedings”
“Vince Beckworth, is exceptional in his commitment to his clients and to ensuring that they have the best advice and support available.”
“Jason Burnett is approachable and very client-focused”
“Jason Burnett who is a very safe pair of hands”
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