Care – Children's Law Centre

If a child is in care, can they speak to their parents? When, how often, will it be supervised?

inico Admin — Fri, 03 Jul 2020 11:21:53 +0000

As long as it is practical and is in the interest of the child, a child should be able to contact their parents or any person who has parental responsibility, is a relative or a friend.

This contact should be direct and on a regular basis, unless it’s not in the child’s best interest.

Can a child stop being in care and move back in with their family?

inico Admin — Fri, 03 Jul 2020 11:21:10 +0000

A Care Order will last until a child turns 18. However, you can go to the court to ask for the judge to stop the order. Taking a child into care should normally be a temporary measure and should be stopped as soon as it is possible to do so.

The Court is responsible for making sure that they try to reunite children with their family and enable regular contact, as long as it is in the child’s best interest.

Can a child refuse family contact?

inico Admin — Fri, 03 Jul 2020 11:20:38 +0000

A social worker will try to allow a child to have contact with their family, as long as this is in their best interest. However, if contact with their family does not appear to be in their best interest, the authorities will try to find a fair balance. The child will be able to have a say about contact.

Can a child have contact with their siblings?

inico Admin — Fri, 03 Jul 2020 11:19:53 +0000

Under Article 9 of the UNCRC the Health and Social Care (HSC) Trust is required to try to maintain contact between a child and their siblings or keep siblings together, as long as this is practical and in their best interest.

Can a child have contact with anyone other than family?

inico Admin — Fri, 03 Jul 2020 11:19:05 +0000

Child have a right to have contact with anyone close to them, including their family, friends, neighbours or previous carers. This should be encouraged as long as it is practical or in the child’s best interest. If it’s not possible for the child to have contact, they should have access to information on the situation of their family members.

Will a child be placed close to where they lived?

inico Admin — Fri, 03 Jul 2020 11:18:31 +0000

The Health and Social Care Trust has a duty to place children near their home, where it is possible to do so, in order for them to have regular contact with their parents.

Will a child need to change School if they are placed in Trust accommodation?

inico Admin — Fri, 03 Jul 2020 11:17:55 +0000

A child’s social worker will try to make sure that they can stay in the same school. This is not always possible and they child may sometimes be required to move school, for example if they are placed too far away.

Will a child be placed with their siblings?

inico Admin — Fri, 03 Jul 2020 11:17:10 +0000

If all siblings are subject of a Care Order, the Health and Social Care (HSC) Trust is responsible for keeping them together as long as it is possible to do so.

What is suitable accommodation?

inico Admin — Fri, 03 Jul 2020 11:16:36 +0000

Suitable accommodation means that the Health and Social Care (HSC) Trust have a duty to provide accommodation for 16 and 17-year-olds who become homeless, taking into account their needs. Once a young person has been accommodated for 24 hours, they become a Looked After Child (LAC).

What is Kinship Foster Care?

inico Admin — Fri, 03 Jul 2020 11:04:20 +0000

Kinship Foster Care is when the Health and Social Care Trust places a child with someone they already know. This usually means family members such as grandparents, aunts and uncles, brothers or sisters.