Contact with a Child in Care

Contact with a Child in Care

The Local Authority has a duty to allow a child who is the subject of a Care order to have reasonable contact with their parents and other family members.

The Court must also consider the contact arrangements before making a care order.

The Local Authority’s duty does not apply when they decide for a limited period of time to refuse contact in urgent circumstances or the Court makes an order authorising the Local Authority’s decision to refuse contact.

If the Court makes an Order to refuse contact, it must be satisfied that it is necessary to refuse contact to safeguard the child or promote the child’s welfare.

Contact arrangements

The Social Worker or Local Authority should inform you of the contact arrangements and explain whether contact will be supervised or unsupervised.

Supervised contact is where contact between a parent and a child is overseen by the Local Authority and a record of the contact will be kept. Supervised contact can take place in a contact centre or in the community.

Unsupervised contact is where there is no person supervising the contact and there are no records of the contact.

What if I have not heard from the Local Authority regarding contact?

If the Local Authority have not confirmed the contact arrangements to you, you should make contact with the Local Authority to enquire about the same.

How can Duncan Lewis Solicitors help you?

Duncan Lewis Solicitors can advise you in relation to contact matters and can correspond with the Local Authority on your behalf regarding contact. If contact has not been facilitated, our experienced children law team can provide you with the necessary advice in relation to preparing an application to the court for contact and make the application on your behalf.

Duncan Lewis is recommended by The Legal 500 legal directory for its specialism in all aspects of family and children law nationwide and cross-border. The Legal 500 applauds our family and child care solicitors to be a team of lawyers that are ‘friendly professionals who take their time to understand your case’. Duncan Lewis team includes Advanced Members of the Law Society’s Family Panel, and members of the Law Society Children.

How will the matter be funded?

Duncan Lewis Solicitors are able to provide free legal aid for these types of applications if you are the subject child, a biological parent or someone with parental responsibility for the subject child. Duncan Lewis Solicitors are also able to potentially provide free legal aid to any other respondent in such an application such as a family member, however such an application maybe means and merit tested. Our Children Law team are able to discuss funding options with you and can assess you for legal aid.

A fixed fee quote or a quote with a legal representative’s hourly rate may also be available for this matter. Potential quotes for such funding will be confirmed with you in advance of any work being undertaken on your matter.

For expert legal advice on all family and childcare matters, contact Duncan Lewis Solicitors on 033 3772 0409.