Care & Social Services Law
If you have received a letter from social services or have a child in care, we can help. HRS is one of the leading firms representing people who face action by the local authority and the prospect of their children being removed in to care. Book a first free appointment today. Legal Aid is available.
Care & Social Services Law
It is not easy to stand up to a Local Authority with a team of Social Workers and lawyers against you. It is not easy to change. It is never easy to take a different path. At HRS, we know these things. That is why we work tirelessly to help people who, often through no fault of their own, find themselves involved with Social services. Our job is to help you keep your family together and we have some significant experience and success in this regard.
We represent people every day in Court against Birmingham City Council, Sandwell MBC, Dudley MBC and Walsall, amongst others, throughout the West Midlands and beyond, from Liverpool to Essex. These cases are too specialist and important to trust to lawyers who do not have the necessary expertise. We are the biggest Care law team in the West Midlands. We are in court doing the job day in and day out. Be it Care Proceedings, an EPO, Secure Accommodation, contact with a child in Care, Special Guardianship or Adoption please call any of our offices for a free first interview.
If you are worried about your children going into care, talk to us right away. We will get things started at the first free interview on the very day a client gets in touch. We will arrange Legal Aid, which is almost always available, and make contact with the Local Authority lawyers about protecting your position in the case, with a view to keeping the family together.
Need more information about our Care & Social Law Services?
How we can help…
HRS Family Law Solicitors are experts in protecting your family from intervention by Social Services. We can help you as much or as little as you need in the following ways:
- Fight claims by social services
- See your child in care
- Win back your children
- Keep your baby
- Get custody of your grandchild, niece or nephew
- Fight false allegations about your behaviour
- Work with charities and training providers so you can demonstrate improvement
- Represent you in court
- Represent you at meetings with Social Services
You should never go through legal action by social services alone. We are here to help and our help is normally free. If you have been contacted by social services do not delay. Contact us right away. Book an Appointment using the link below.
Why choose HRS Family Law Solicitors
Experts in their field – Because we are specialists in family law and do nothing else we have lots of experience in winning children back from care and stopping social services from taking children away. Book a free appointment today.
No legalese or jargon – Just straightforward advice focused on achieving your goal. At HRS we understand that you are the client and our role is to give you advice and assistance. It is not for us to tell you what to do.
Legal Aid available – If social services have sent you a letter or are threatening legal action then legal aid is almost always available. Book a free appointment to find out more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. We specialise in representing parents who have social services involved with their family. The first rule is to get legal advice ASAP. The second is; do not sign anything until you get the advice. The third is that we can make a real difference to the outcome but we must have all of the facts to really help you.
It is complicated but usually they cannot remove children without a Court order. The exception to that is Police Protection as the Police can remove for 72 hours. If you are contacted by the Police or Social services about your children get legal advice immediately.
Yes. Absolutely. We have Legal Aid in all of our offices. For any case involving Social services you can get Legal Aid and we even do free advice for people even if the Local Authority have not taken any action.
Basically, they are looking at the level of intervention they may decide to take. CIN is the lowest category after a referral. The next one up is Child Protection. After that something called the Public Law outline and then Care proceedings. If you have a child labelled as a Child in Need you should get legal advice as often the Local Authority take a decision to raise their concern to Child Protection action or further. It is important to act before things get out of hand.
No. You should always get advice when dealing with Social services. Many social workers are good people with the best intentions, but at the end of the day they work for the local authority. They have a lot of power and you need all the help that you can get. Always work with a social worker for the best interest of your child but do not make the mistake of thinking that they are on your side.
A Care order is an order of the Court that means the Local Authority have parental responsibility for your child. In reality this means that you lose your rights and your child will probably be removed from your care. They could be adopted to another family, even against your wishes. Get legal advice immediately.
As Law Society Children panel experts we always advise as follows;
1. Do not sign a voluntary agreement known as a section 20 without legal advice.
2. If your child has been labelled as a Child in Need or in need of Child Protection get legal advice for free with us or under the Legal Help scheme.
3. If the Local authority send you a Public Law Outline letter, go and see a Law Society Children panel Solicitor immediately.
4. If the Police attend to remove your child, call our emergency advice line at the top of the page.
5. If the Local Authority issue Care proceedings take the paperwork and walk in to one of our offices straight away. We will act for you without any waiting or legal fees as Legal Aid is free and available, regardless of your income.
Related Care Services
When social services become involved with your family, it can feel overwhelming and difficult to know what to do next. Our specialist family law solicitors can provide clear advice and support throughout care proceedings, including situations where an interim care order is being considered. Find out more about these related services below.
Care Proceedings
Care proceedings can be started when social services believe a child may be at risk of significant harm. Our solicitors can explain the process, your rights as a parent, and what steps you can take.
Interim Care Orders
An interim care order can give the local authority temporary parental responsibility while care proceedings are ongoing. We can help you understand what this means and how to respond.
Case Studies
