How to contact us for advice

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Our advice service

We provide advice to parents, grandparents, relatives, friends and kinship carers who are involved with children’s services in England or need their help. We can help you understand processes and options when social workers or courts are making decisions about your child’s welfare.

Our advice service is free, independent and confidential.

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By phone or email

To speak to an adviser, please call our free and confidential advice line 0808 801 0366 (Monday to Friday 9.30am to 3pm, excluding Bank Holidays). For Textphone dial 18001 followed by the advice line number. Or you can ask us a question via email using our advice enquiry form.

Discuss on our forums

Our online advice forums are an anonymous space where parents and kinship carers (also known as family and friends carers) can get legal and practical advice, build a support network and learn from other people’s experiences.

Advice on our website

Our get help and advice section describes the processes that you and your family are likely to go through, so that you know what to expect. Our webchat service can help you find the information and advice on our website which will help you understand the law and your rights.

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Child in need plan

This is a plan that sets out what extra help children’s services and other agencies, including health and education, will provide for a child in need and their family.

The plan should be drawn up in partnership with the child and their family after a child in need assessment.

The plan should:

  • Set out what help and services will be provided, and who by
  • Define clear outcomes that can be measured (so it will be clear whether or not the child is making progress)
  • Make clear what is expected of the parents
  • Reflect and build on positive aspects of the family’s situation, as well as any difficulties.
  • The scope of the plan will be determined by the complexity and severity of the child’s needs.

For more information see our advice pages on:

Child in need

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