Have Bury children’s services (sometimes referred to as social services) contacted you regarding the welfare of your children? Our family law solicitors at AFG Law understand the panic and distress that this can cause parents. Our specialist family law team based in Bury town centre can offer you expert advice and assistance surrounding Bury children’s services involvement with your family.
If you would like to speak to one of our specialist family law solicitors regarding Bury children’s services involvement, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us today. Our experienced team is here to offer support every step of the way.
Reasons Bury Children’s Services May Step In
There are many reasons and circumstances in which Bury children’s services may get in touch regarding your family/children.
It is understandable that parents feel judged and distressed when children’s services become involved, particularly given the fear of losing custody. However, the primary aim of children’s services is to safeguard children from harm, abuse, and neglect.
Children’s services may intervene for several reasons:
- Concerns About Abuse: If there are allegations or evidence of physical, emotional, or sexual abuse.
- Neglect: Failure to meet a child’s basic needs, such as food, clothing, shelter, or medical care.
- Substance Misuse: Parental drug or alcohol addiction affecting their ability to care for the child.
- Mental Health Issues: A parent’s mental health or learning disability struggles that impairs their ability to provide a safe environment.
- Unsafe Living Conditions: Poor housing, exposure to violence, or an environment considered dangerous for the child.
- Domestic Violence: If there is domestic violence in the home, putting the child at risk.
- Criminal Behaviour: A parent’s criminal activities, especially those that may directly endanger the child.
- Educational Neglect: Failure to ensure the child attends school or receives a proper education.
- Inadequate Supervision: A lack of proper supervision or leaving children in unsafe situations.
People often think children’s services immediately remove children from their family home, but that’s not true. Children’s services can only do that in very serious, urgent situations. How much they get involved depends on the nature of the concerns.
It is important to seek out legal advice as soon as possible when you have been informed of children’s services involvement with your family. Early legal intervention can make a significant difference to the outcome of your case.
How Can Our Team of Bury Children’s Services Solicitors Help?
At AFG Law, our Bury children’s services solicitors can help with a wide range of issues related to the involvement of children’s services in family matters, such as:
- Care Orders: We can provide advice and representation when children’s services seek a care order to place your child in foster care or another type of care arrangement.
- Emergency Protection Orders (EPO): If Bury children’s services apply for an EPO to remove your child from the home immediately, our solicitors can offer legal support to challenge or understand the order.
- Interim Care Orders: Our solicitors can assist in cases where an interim care order is applied for.
- Section 20 Agreements: Our team can help you understand the implications of a Section 20 agreement, which allows children to be temporarily placed in care with parental consent. We can also advise on withdrawing consent.
- Child Protection Plans: We can explain the terms of child protection plans, ensure parents understand their obligations, and help challenge any unfair plans or actions by children’s services.
- Public Law Outline (PLO): Our Bury children’s services solicitors can assist in pre-proceeding meetings under the Public Law Outline (PLO), advising parents on the steps to take to prevent court action or care proceedings.
- Court Proceedings: If care proceedings are initiated, we can represent parents in court, ensuring your side is presented and challenging any evidence or decisions that may be detrimental to the family.
- Appeals: We can help you appeal unfavourable decisions related to child protection matters.
Our Bury children’s services solicitors provide legal assistance to parents/guardians with children’s services involvement, ensuring that parental rights are respected, correct legal procedures are adhered to, and decisions prioritise the child and family.
Contact AFG Law Today
AFG Law specialises in providing legal support to families dealing with children’s services involvement and is one of the biggest teams dedicated to Family Law in the Greater Manchester area.
With offices in Bury, Bolton and Stockport, our family law team are well placed to assist families with children’s services involvement and can provide expert legal advice, support throughout investigations, and representation in court to protect your rights and the best interests of your family.
Please call 01204 920 100 to speak with AFG Law’s expert family and care team who can support you in all aspects of family law. Alternatively, you can email us at familysolicitor@afglaw.co.uk.
For more information on our range of children’s services legal help, please go to our main page here.
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