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Seek help. That’s our advice if social services are accusing you of harming your children, whether emotionally or physically.
It can be the start of a daunting legal process – but we can help you with this and legal aid is usually available where a local authority issues care proceedings or holds a Public Law Outline meeting.
Public Law Outline meeting
If the local authority consider the case to be sufficiently serious to consider taking court action, then they may convene a Public Law Outline (or PLO) meeting. You will qualify for automatic legal aid at this point and, when the local authority issues a PLO letter, you should take it directly to a solicitor.
The social worker, you, any other person with parental responsibility and your respective legal representatives will be asked to attend the meeting.
The concerns of the local authority will be discussed and any possible solutions explored. The authority will then decide whether their concerns can be managed by an agreement between you and them, or whether they should commence care proceedings at court.
Care proceedings
The authority may issue care proceedings if they remain concerned that a child has or might suffer significant harm, which could be emotional, physical, sexual or neglect. The authority will seek to protect any child they are concerned about, which could include asking a judge to remove the child (or children) from a parent’s care.
These court proceedings are often complex and lengthy. It is vital that each parent instructs a solicitor to put their case. This will include looking at issues such as where the child should live whilst the proceedings are ongoing, what contact a parent should have with the child during that time and the evidence that should be gathered to enable the court to make a decision. Our child protection team is highly experienced in representing parents and carers who find themselves subject to care proceedings. Three of our solicitors are members of the Law Society’s Children Panel.
Testimonials
Wollens is approachable and a welcoming and supportive space. This is especially important when dealing with family law, as these can be highly emotive cases.
A good firm with a range of quality solicitors
The team at Wollens are extremely approachable and knowledgeable and are keen to understand the needs of their clients. My experience is that they are inquisitive as to the ways which other professionals can help their clients achieve good outcomes.
Victoria jumped straight into action and really made changes in my case. She was professional, calm, meticulous and caring. Thanks to Victoria and the team my children are home where they belong with no findings against me! I can’t thank her enough and could not recommend her more, she’s fantastic!
The team are able to work on multiple transactions at once. I deal with an all-female team of solictors and paralegals which is good to see!
The team is highly responsive to communications and gives a personable yet professional service.
Friendly, approachable, quick, knowledgeable, transparent on fees, high quality service.
All the individuals at the firm with whom I have interacted have time to listen and understand. They make an effort to address the needs of clients – whether in the context of home visits or working with time differences with overseas clients. At all times, the client comes first. The firm should be very proud of their team.
Very friendly and approachable team. You are dealing with one person who knows your case, not a different person each time. Accessible to non-English speakers – they use professional and accredited interpreters and translators which makes them stand out from the other legal firms in the area.
All team members are very professional and respectful in their dealings with clients and other legal representatives. The team has a wide breadth of experience.
The family team are highly experienced and specialised, providing exceptional service, top quality advice, representation and support to their clients.
This team is unusual as although there are more than one office in the area it focuses in providing a consistent high level of service to local people and having specialist knowledge and understanding of the region and its culture
Wollens were very professional – knew exactly what we needed and got on with it.
They are approachable, knowledgeable, have great strength in depth and offer a strong client service.
They are a forward-thinking firm.
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