Accessible and jargon-free, this everyday reference explains the fundamental concepts of parental responsibility and human rights, and the provisions of private and public law, including care proceedings and adoption.

Table of Contents

• ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
• PREFACE
• Introduction
• Part 1 Fundamentals
• 1. Human Rights
• 2. Key Points in Children and Families Law
• 3. Parents, Parental Responsibility and Children’s Autonomy
• Part 2 Private Law
• 4. Section 8 Orders, Specific Issues and Prohibited Steps
• 5. Arrangements for Children (Residence) and Special Guardianship Orders
• 6. Arrangements for Children (Contact)
• Part 3 The Local Authority’s Support Role
• 7. Children in Need
• 8. Accommodation
• Part 4 Child Protection
• 9. Child Protection Investigations
• 10. Emergency Action
• Part 5 Care Proceedings
• 11. The Threshold Criteria
• 12. Care Proceedings: Interim Stages
• 13. Care Proceedings: Care Orders, Care Plans and Contact
• 14. Care Plans
• 15. Adoption Fundamentals and Adoption by Consent
• 16. Placement Orders, Contested Cases and Contact
• APPENDIX 1A: CHILDREN ACT 1989 KEY SECTIONS BY NUMBER
• APPENDIX 1B: CHILDREN ACT 1989 KEY SECTIONS BY SUBJECT
• APPENDIX 2: ORDER FOR RESIDENCE, SPECIAL GUARDIANSHIP AND ADOPTION AT A GLANCE
• APPENDIX 3: CONTACT AIDE-MEMOIRE
• APPENDIX 4: CARE AND ACCOMMODATION AT A GLANCE
• APPENDIX 5: SUMMARY OF DUTIES TO ‘LOOKED AFTER’ CHILDREN
• APPENDIX 6: EMERGENCY PROTECTION ORDER AIDE-MEMOIRE
• APPENDIX 7: CARE AND SUPERVISION ORDERS AT A GLANCE