Urgent Public Law Representation
Care Proceedings & PLO Solicitors
If you have received a letter before proceedings or the local authority has issued a care application, obtain specialist advice immediately. Early hearings can determine interim care, contact, assessments and the timetable for the case.
Email our care proceedings team
How we can help
We review the local authority's concerns, advise on threshold allegations and prepare practical proposals focused on the child's immediate and long-term welfare.
- PLO and pre-proceedings meetings
- Interim and final care proceedings
- Emergency protection and removal issues
- Contact, assessments and family placements
Legal aid for parents
Parents and certain people with parental responsibility are generally eligible for non-means-tested, non-merits-tested legal aid when the local authority starts specified care or supervision proceedings. Eligibility must be confirmed for the particular case.
Wherever you are in the process, we can help
Social Services want to take my child
Social workers can only ask the court to remove a child if they can prove, to a legal threshold, that the child is suffering or is likely to suffer significant harm. Raising concerns alone is not enough - the case must be proven in court, and you have the right to challenge it with specialist representation from the outset.
I have received a Letter Before Proceedings
A Letter Before Proceedings (PLO letter) sets out the local authority's concerns and invites you to a meeting before they apply to court. It is a critical early opportunity to respond and, in many cases, avoid court altogether - getting legal advice immediately can change the outcome.
The Local Authority has issued Care Proceedings
Once proceedings are issued, the local authority must prove the legal "threshold" - that your child is suffering, or is likely to suffer, significant harm - before the court can make any order. We review the threshold document line by line and challenge allegations that are not properly evidenced.
Can Social Services remove my child?
Social services cannot remove your child without a court order, except in a genuine emergency. The court must be satisfied the legal threshold is met and that removal is necessary and proportionate, and we fight to show the court that safer, less disruptive options should be considered first.
What happens at the first Care Proceedings hearing?
The first hearing usually deals with interim arrangements - where your child will live, contact, and the timetable for assessments - rather than a final decision. Early preparation, including a clear chronology and response to the allegations, gives you the strongest starting position.
What is an Interim Care Order?
An Interim Care Order gives the local authority shared parental responsibility while the case continues - you do not lose your rights as a parent, but some day-to-day decisions can be shared. It is a temporary, reviewable measure, not the final outcome of the case.
Can my child live with a grandparent instead of foster care?
Courts and local authorities must consider family and friends before an unrelated foster placement where this can meet the child's needs safely. If a relative is willing to help, tell the social worker or your solicitor immediately so they can be assessed.
What is a parenting assessment?
A parenting assessment is evidence for the court about whether you can meet your child's needs safely and consistently, not a test of being a perfect parent. Attending every appointment and showing evidence of change are the most effective ways to engage with it.
Can I challenge a negative parenting assessment?
Yes. A negative assessment is important evidence, but it is not the court's final decision - factual errors, unfair process and evidence of change since the report can all be put before the court through your solicitor.
How long do care proceedings take?
Care proceedings are subject to a statutory 26-week timetable, although complex evidence, finding-of-fact hearings or late-identified family carers can justify a longer timescale. The court keeps the timetable under active review at every hearing.
Can my children come home after being placed in foster care?
Yes - removal is not final. Courts and local authorities must keep a safe return home under active consideration where a parent demonstrates genuine, evidenced change to the concerns that led to removal.
Examples from cases handled by our solicitors
Anonymised outcomes from matters handled by our solicitor in previous practice, showing how engagement and evidence shape the court's decision.
Common questions
What should I do after receiving a PLO letter?
Seek legal advice promptly, keep the letter and supporting documents, and prepare for the meeting with a clear understanding of the concerns and proposed plan.
Is legal aid available in care proceedings?
It is generally available without a financial assessment to parents and certain people with parental responsibility in specified proceedings brought by a local authority. Your solicitor must confirm eligibility.