Children and Child Protection - Penmans Solicitors

Are social services involved in your family? Are you worried that your child might be removed from your care?

We are specialist lawyers who can help with a wide range of cases.

We understand that when there is a court case involving your children it is frightening and stressful. We know that the thought of having your child removed from your care will be devastating for you.

We will help you during the process and support you in either the ‘pre-proceedings’ process or in court proceedings.

We give clear and helpful advice and ensure you understand the process and what is expected of you. If your child is not living with you, we will focus on you having the best possible arrangement to see your child and on how you can work towards getting your child back.

We can help you from the very first time a social worker speaks with you.

Our lawyers have many years of experience in speaking up for clients who have social services involvement in their family and will be there to speak up for you.

Our Services

Pre-proceedings process

If your social worker has said they want to go through the pre-proceedings process, this means they are thinking about taking the matter to Court. You will be invited to a meeting to talk about concerns and what you can do to prevent going to Court.

We can attend this meeting with you and speak up for you during this process.

We have had very good results in cases in pre-proceedings which have not gone to court and social services involvement has been stepped down.

You will have free legal help during this process.

Family Drug and Alcohol Court

You may be offered help from the Family Drug and Alcohol Court (FDAC) if you have difficulties with drugs or alcohol.

FDAC have a team of workers who will provide you with wrap-around support in your addiction recovery journey.

We are able to advise you through FDAC proceedings and we have had very good results in cases where FDAC have been involved with many parents being reunited with their children.

Complex cases

We are very experienced in dealing with complex cases, including:

Cases where the Local Authority think there has been a non-accidental injury to a child
Fabricated or induced illness (FII)
Allegations of serious abuse
Parental alienation

In these cases, we will ensure you have the best specialist team of lawyers to represent you.

Special Guardianship

We advise family members who are already caring for children or who would like to care for children in the family.

Legal aid has been extended to cover Special Guardianship in some circumstances.

We are able to make Court applications on your behalf for Special Guardianship Orders and advise and represent you during that process.

It is vitally important that you have advice in respect of the SGO support plan, particularly in respect of contact arrangements and financial support. We will discuss this with you in detail and liaise with the Local Authority to achieve the support that you require.

Our focus is on providing professional, sensible and clear advice throughout.

Care proceedings

This is when the Local Authority makes a Court application and applies for an order in relation to your child (care order or supervision order).

We are very experienced in representing clients in care proceedings.

As a parent, you will have free legal aid.

We will:

Make sure you understand the Court process and have additional help to understand if you need it – we have a lot of experience of working with parents who have a lay advocate
Listen to what you have to say and your story
Keep you fully informed of the Court’s decisions and what is expected of you
Set out your position at Court for the Judge
Argue that your child should remain in your care if this is what you want
If your child is not with you, we will work to put in place the best possible arrangement for you to see your child
Ask the Court for the right assessment of you if an assessment is needed
Draft statements for you that are really clear and tell the Court all the things you want to say

FAQ

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Our Team

Jennifer Wilson Member/Solicitor/Advocate, Coventry Childcare and Child Protection

024 7622 6575 jennifer.wilson@penmanssolicitors.co.uk

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Simon Jones Solicitor, Coventry Childcare and Child Protection

024 7622 6575 simon.jones@penmanssolicitors.co.uk

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Sarah Morris Chartered Legal Executive Advocate, Coventry Childcare and Child Protection

024 7622 6575 sarah.morris@penmanssolicitors.co.uk

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