At the heart of the kind of issues we deal with every day are human beings undergoing a great deal of stress. That’s because we specialise in family law, and this means dealing with people working through extremely difficult periods in their life such as a divorce, dealing with probate following a death and cases of domestic abuse. We fully understand the legal ramifications of all of these issues and more, and combine this expertise with a supportive and empathetic approach. All of this makes us the ideal people to come to if you’re seeking social services help.
We know how daunting the world of the law can be to someone not used to dealing with it, and this applies even more when social services help is needed. Everything from the language being used to the possible ramifications for an entire family and the final price tag can weigh on the mind and make a difficult situation even worse. The social services help we offer is delivered in a manner which removes as much of the stress as possible, utilising language which is easily understood and avoiding jargon and ‘legalese’. We also offer the kind of support clients require when dealing with social services, helping them to cope with the emotional ramifications of cases which often involve children.
Our social services help isn’t just about support, however, since it also involves the kind of up to the minute legal knowledge that comes with the fact that members of our team have been accredited by the Law Society as members of the Children Panel. This means that our expertise in and awareness of children’s law is second to none, and that we work to an extremely strict code of practice, providing social services help which clients can depend upon from first point of contact through to resolution.
Social services help can cover a wide range of issues but the majority of cases involve questions about the welfare of children. This is the aspect which makes it more stressful than anything else, and we understand just how disturbing it can be if social services get in touch with you over concerns about the well-being of your child. An intervention of this kind could be prompted by information from a professional such as a teacher or doctor, a member of the public or even a member of your family. No matter where the information has come from, social services have a legal obligation to intervene if they are concerned that a child might be in danger, or if they have suspicions that the needs of the child in question aren’t being properly met. The first point of contact will often take the form of a letter from social services, addressed to the parent or guardian of the child. This will explain the concerns which social services have, and invite the parent or guardian to attend a meeting to discuss things.
A letter of this kind often throws a parent or guardian into panic, fearing the worst and not knowing how to respond. That’s why the best course of action is to contact us to ask for social services help as soon as you possibly can. The letter may well mention things such as Child Protection Conferences, Core Groups and PLO meetings, and our experts will be able to explain exactly what these mean and whether, in our expert opinion, social services are likely to start court proceedings in order to remove the child from their home. We’ll explain everything in a calm and professional manner, using the kind of language which anyone could understand while setting out your rights and responsibilities and the various scenarios which could play out.
One of these scenarios might include a home visit from social services, and if it does then we’ll explain exactly what visits like these consist of, and the kind of questions you might be asked. We’ll also explain that they might wish to speak to other people involved in your child’s life, such as teachers. In some cases, the initial contact from social services might be the result of a mistake or misunderstanding, or it could be that you do need some help with aspects of a child’s care – if they have special needs which aren’t being met, for example- and the contact with social services is the first step toward accessing the services you require. No matter what the circumstances are, our social services help will be by your side every step of the way, providing expertise and support. If you’d like to find out more about our social services help or have questions about child welfare and family law, please call us on 0161 429 7251 or email us at [email protected]. We’ve recently passed our Cyber Essential accreditation, something which demonstrates our forward-thinking attitude and determination to remain ahead of the competition. The first 20-minute appraisal is provided free of charge, and we’ll give you the first appointment for a fixed fee, so you don’t have to worry about how much our advice is going to cost. This initial meeting can ensure that you understand why social services have made contact and can feel able to move forward with confidence. If you want to explore our wider charging system then please take a look here.
