Ameeta Bhuhi
Solicitor, Care Proceedings
English
If a Local Authority is concerned about your child's safety and welfare, they may decide to start care proceedings to remove your child from your home.
Unless the need to remove your child is urgent, social workers employed by the Local Authority will follow a Public Law Outline process and invite you to attend a pre-proceedings meeting, often referred to as a PLO meeting.
Regardless of your financial situation, you are entitled to Legal Aid. This means you don't have to worry about representing yourself, and your legal representation at this meeting and any further meetings will be covered by Legal Aid.
This is not a typical social worker meeting. It is your last opportunity to prevent the Local Authority from starting care proceedings.
Our Child Care Proceedings Solicitors understand that you may be feeling frightened and perhaps angry about social workers being involved with your family. We will guide you through the process, explain the PLO safeguarding procedure, and provide full support at the PLO meeting.
For initial legal advice, please contact our Child Care Proceedings Solicitors.
Fill in the form below to get in touch with one of our dedicated team members, or call our team today on: 0800 260 5010
PLO stands for 'Public Law Outline'.
If a Local Authority is concerned about a child's safety within their family, social workers can apply to get a Care Order or Supervision Order to protect the child. A PLO provides a set of rules that guide social workers on how to manage these cases. A pre-proceedings meeting is part of the PLO process.
Local authorities have a legal duty to safeguard children in their area. If they're notified that a child may be at risk of danger, a social worker will investigate and make contact with the family. Many people are afraid that if a social worker becomes involved with their family, they will take away their children. This is not the case. In fact, a social worker’s aim is to do everything possible to keep families together. But if they determine that the child is not safe within their family and a Court Order is needed to protect them, they may start the PLO process.
A PLO meeting is held so you and social workers can agree on what needs to be done to protect your child from harm and determine what actions can be taken to avoid going to Court. You must take this meeting seriously and prepare for it.
It is your opportunity to demonstrate your commitment to improving your family environment and ensuring your child receives the care and support they need. You will not be left to figure things out on your own, as social workers will outline exactly what needs to change so your child can continue to live with you.
The meeting itself will typically last between one and two hours. The PLO process usually takes between three and six months to complete.
Most people feel extremely nervous when social workers become involved in their family's life. If you have never had dealings with the law before, a PLO meeting can feel intimidating.
Our Child Care Proceedings Solicitors understand this and will do everything possible to make you feel supported and reassured. We're approachable, friendly, and compassionate. Our priority is your child's welfare and keeping your family together. We will tell you what happens in a PLO meeting, help you prepare, and support you through the entire PLO process.
PLO meetings are attended by:
It is a crucial meeting as you'll have the opportunity to respond to the concerns raised by the social worker. We'll explain why the social worker has called a PLO meeting and what steps you need to take to ensure they do not have to remove your child.
When the meeting ends, you'll likely be asked to sign a written agreement, which will outline:
The written agreement is not legally binding, but if you do not take it seriously and fail to follow it, the Local Authority will likely apply for a Care Order.
At the end of the PLO meeting, it is likely that another meeting will be arranged.
We'll attend this with you and advise you how to best demonstrate that you have met the conditions set out in the written agreement. We aim to have the PLO process concluded at this stage. A social worker will likely remain involved with your family, but at a lower level of intervention.
If a Local Authority decides to start care proceedings, it will send you a Letter Before Proceedings (LBP) unless it believes your child is in immediate danger and must be removed immediately.
The LBP will tell you:
You will also receive a list of Care Proceedings Solicitors who specialise in children's law. We are on the list in Leeds, London, Liverpool, Manchester and Bristol, but we may be able to provide legal assistance wherever you are based.
We will help you prepare for a PLO meeting by:
If anything in the LBP is unclear, our Child Care Proceeding Solicitors will contact the Local Authority on your behalf.
A PLO meeting must take place within seven days of the LBP letter being sent. You will need to bring along your LBP letter and any other documents requested by the Local Authority.
The most important thing is to remain calm at the meeting. We'll tell you exactly what to expect and advise you on how to answer questions effectively.
If you are sent an LBP, you are entitled to Legal Aid. For parents, Legal Aid will be provided regardless of their financial position. We will guide you through the process of applying.
If the Local Authority becomes concerned about your child's safety, it can apply for a Care Order under the Children Act 1989. If the Family Court grants a Care Order, the Local Authority is given Parental Responsibility over your child and may remove them from your home and place them in care.
The Family Court can only decide to grant a Care Order if it is satisfied that your child is suffering, or is likely to suffer, significant harm because:
Harm can mean physical, sexual, or emotional abuse and neglect. Harm can also result from your child witnessing you or someone else in your home being abused.
As a parent, you have the right to have a Child Care Proceedings Solicitor to help and support you. Everyone attending the meeting will be focused on what is in your child's best interests. Your responsibility as a parent is to actively participate in the meeting and agree to make the necessary changes to satisfy the Local Authority, ensuring that you can provide a safe family environment.
We will provide you with primary support throughout the PLO process, including during the pre-proceedings meeting. We can also recommend support services that can help you address some of the issues that may be included in the LBP letter, such as:
Social workers were concerned about the welfare of four children aged from 9 months to 6 years old, as neighbours had heard shouting in the home and bottles smashing. The police attended the family home and found the father being drunk and abusive.
Charlotte (not her real name) contacted our Care Proceedings Solicitors for help when she was told that Social Services were starting Court proceedings because of their concerns about her children. Charlotte had 3 children aged 3, 5 and 7. She’d been struggling with her mental health for some time and recently things had gone downhill at home.
A Section 20 is a voluntary agreement where social workers invite a person with Parental Responsibility to agree to have their child temporarily placed in alternative accommodation such as foster care. If a social worker has asked you to consider Section 20, you might be feeling worried about what happens next. It’s important you consider your options carefully before making any decisions.
Fill in the form below to get in touch with one of our dedicated team members, or call our team today on: 0800 260 5010
