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Care Proceedings & Social Services

Expert legal advice and representation when social services become involved with your family.

...with you every step of the way since 1927

Few situations are more distressing for parents, grandparents and family members than involvement from Social Services.

If concerns have been raised regarding a child, it is important to obtain experienced legal advice as early as possible. Whether Social Services are carrying out an assessment, you have been invited to attend a Public Law Outline (PLO) meeting, or care proceedings have already begun, obtaining specialist support can help you understand your rights, your options and the legal process ahead.

At Eaton Smith Solicitors, our experienced Family Law team provides specialist advice and representation to parents, grandparents, family members and carers involved in care proceedings and child protection matters. We understand how stressful and emotional these situations can be and are committed to guiding you through each stage of the process with clear, straightforward advice and practical support.

We can assist from the earliest stages of Social Services involvement through to representation at court should proceedings become necessary. Throughout, our focus remains on protecting your interests while ensuring the welfare of the child remains at the centre of decision-making.

We offer a free 30-minute initial consultation and can advise on funding options, including Legal Aid where available.

Call 01484 821300 to arrange your consultation.

How We Can Help

Our specialist Family Law team advises and represents clients in relation to:

Social Services Involvement

Advice from the earliest stage where Children's Services have raised concerns regarding a child's welfare.

Child Protection Investigations

Guidance and support throughout child protection investigations and assessments.

Public Law Outline (PLO) Meetings

Advice and representation where concerns have been raised and a PLO meeting has been arranged.

Care Proceedings

Specialist representation for parents, carers and family members involved in Family Court proceedings.

Care Orders and Emergency Protection Orders

Advice where the local authority seeks legal intervention to protect a child.

Police Protection Orders

Guidance where emergency action has been taken by the police to safeguard a child.

Supervision Orders

Advice regarding applications for Supervision Orders and the responsibilities that accompany them.

Special Guardianship Orders

Support for grandparents, relatives and carers seeking long-term arrangements for a child's care.

Secure Accommodation Orders

Representation in cases involving applications for secure accommodation.

Findings Sought by Social Services

Advice and representation where allegations have been made and Social Services are seeking findings against a parent or family member.

Grandparents and Family Members

Support for grandparents, relatives and connected persons who may be assessed as carers or become involved in proceedings.


Why Choose Eaton Smith Solicitors?

Accredited Child Care Specialists

Our Family Law team includes solicitors with Children Panel membership, a recognised accreditation demonstrating the expertise required to represent parents and children in complex childcare proceedings.

High Court Advocacy

We have the in-house capability to represent clients at every level of court, including the High Court, ensuring continuity and consistency throughout proceedings.

Experienced Representation

We regularly advise parents, grandparents, carers and family members involved in child protection matters and care proceedings.

Clear and Practical Advice

We explain complex legal procedures in plain English, Urdu or even Polish, so you understand what is happening, what to expect and the options available to you.

Support Throughout the Process

We recognise the emotional impact these matters can have on families and provide supportive, practical guidance every step of the way.

Related Family Law Services

You may also wish to seek advice regarding:

Speak to Our Care Proceedings & Social Services Team

If Social Services have become involved with your family or you are facing care proceedings, obtaining specialist legal advice as early as possible can make a significant difference.

Our experienced Family Law team is here to support and guide you through the process.

Legal aid may be available and is subject to financial eligibility. We are happy to discuss whether you qualify for legal aid with you.

Contact Eaton Smith's Family Law team  to discuss your requirements and arrange your free 30-minute consultation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Care proceedings are court proceedings brought by a local authority when concerns have been raised regarding a child's welfare and the authority believes legal intervention may be required.

A Public Law Outline (PLO) meeting is usually one of the final stages before care proceedings are started. It is important to obtain legal advice as soon as you receive an invitation to attend.

Social Services cannot usually remove a child without either parental agreement or legal authority from the court, except in certain emergency circumstances.

A Child Protection Conference is a multi-agency meeting held to consider concerns regarding a child's safety and wellbeing and determine whether a Child Protection Plan is required.

An Emergency Protection Order is a court order used where urgent action is required to safeguard a child who may be at immediate risk.

This is an order which gives the local authority shared parental responsibility for your child. It allows them to make decisions about who the child lives with and spend time with.

A Supervision Order placed a child under the supervision of local authority social services, while allowing the child to remain living at home or with their family.

A Supervision Order placed a child under the supervision of local authority social services, while allowing the child to remain living at home or with their family.

Yes. In some situations, grandparents or other family members may be assessed as alternative carers. Specialist legal advice can help you understand your rights and options.

Legal Aid is often available in care proceedings cases. Our team can advise you regarding eligibility and funding arrangements.

Downloads

We consider that downloading our guide is an indication that you may be interested in our services. We may therefore contact you via email at some point following your download, to see if we can assist with any queries you may have. By providing your contact details, you are acknowledging and accepting that we will contact you to discuss how we might be of assistance.


Family Law - Parenting Brochure

Parental responsibility plays a crucial role in many of the decisions that shape a child's life, from schooling and medical treatment to travel and religious upbringing. Yet many parents are unsure what parental responsibility means, who holds it and what happens when those involved cannot agree. In this guide, our experienced Family Law team explains the key principles of parental responsibility, answers frequently asked questions and provides practical guidance to help families navigate child-related decisions with confidence.

Need Advice on Care Proceedings & Social Services?

We've been advising clients since 1927. Get in touch for clear, practical guidance from our experienced team

Call us: 01484 821016 Send us an email Send an Enquiry

Team for You – Care Proceedings & Social Services

T: 01484 821337
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Abbid Majeed
Abbid Majeed
Partner
T: 01484 821300
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Katherine Stephenson
Katherine Stephenson
Partner
T: 01484 821474
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Zahra Nawaz
Zahra Nawaz
Partner
T: 01484 821314
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Abby Drew
Abby Drew
Paralegal
T: 01484 821382
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Elle Hoddinott
Elle Hoddinott
Paralegal
T: 01484 821351
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Helen Southgate
Helen Southgate
Legal Assistant
T: 01484 821468
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Lindsay Preston
Lindsay Preston
Associate
T: 01484 821326
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Morgan Firth
Morgan Firth
Paralegal
T: 01484 821318
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Nicola Hinchliffe
Nicola Hinchliffe
Legal Assistant
T: 01484 821371
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Sarah Addyman
Sarah Addyman
Assistant
T: 01484 821327
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Sylwia Zajac
Sylwia Zajac
Solicitor

Testimonials

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I can't thank Eaton Smith enough for all your help and advice during a very stressful time. I found the service provided first class. I would recommend you to anyone.

C. Ramsden
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We just wanted to say a huge thank you for all your help and guidance through a truly traumatic time. Many thanks.

A Client
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Very helpful Receptionist, very nice helpful solicitors, nice clean fresh waiting area and good service and also the speed of service is excellent. I would definitely recommend Eaton Smith having used your firm for many years and always received a good service.

K. Nadeem
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Having received advice from 2 previous solicitors without satisfactory outcomes, I was recommended to talk to Eaton Smith. From the outset my Solicitor was very thoughtful and helpful. He managed to make a complicated legal challenge / situation comprehensible. Although a stressful and emotional case at times, I was consistently provided with reassurances as the team responded to the many twists and turns of the case as they emerged.

R Molinari
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Eaton Smith are a well established law firm in Huddersfield. They deliver a good service, friendly, helpful and straight to the point. They get they job done and don't drag their feet. Does exactly what it says on the tin.

A Client
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The team at Eaton Smith are a genuine pleasure to work with. They are responsive and have a great depth of understanding of their client`s needs. They are a very well established and highly respected team amongst the legal community. They serve their client`s interests well with honesty and integrity.

Broadway House Chambers
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I have worked closely with Katherine Stephenson (Partner) on a number of complicated cases. She is very bright, very approachable, and absolutely dedicated. Crucially she is straight-talking yet compassionate with clients. I have seen directly how her clients have been assisted immeasurably by her sage advice and able representation. One of them is likely to have her son returned to her care shortly following a complex trial with Vietnamese interpretation and involving issues of sexual harm and domestic abuse. Katherine is developing a similarly impressive team around her. Both Abby Drew and Sylwia Zajac have assisted me during hearings and they show great promise.

Park Square Barristers