How to contact us for advice

Find out more

Telephone Handler
Close form

Our advice service

Are you a parent, kinship carer relative or friend of a child who is involved with, or who needs the help of, children’s services in England? 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.

Telephone Handler

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). 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 has template letters, advice sheets and resources about legal and social care processes. On Monday and Wednesday afternoons, you can use our webchat service to chat online to an adviser.

 

Exit
Family Rights Group
Cover Your Tracks
Generic filters
Exact matches only

Corporate parenting

Corporate parenting means that when a child is being looked after by children’s services, the local authority has a duty to provide the kind of care and support that would be expected of any responsible parent.

This goes beyond simply keeping the child safe. It means wanting the best for the child or young person. It means doing whatever it takes to make sure they have every chance to reach their potential.

Government guidance says:

‘The role of the corporate parent is to act as the best possible parent for each child they look after and to advocate on his/her behalf to secure the best possible outcomes … As corporate parents, each local authority must act for the children they look after as a responsible and conscientious parent would act.’

The Children and Social Work Act 2017 introduced seven ‘corporate parenting principles’. These are intended to strengthen and underpin children’s services existing responsibilities.

In carrying out their duties and functions in relation to looked after children and care leavers, local authorities should:

  • Act in the children and young people’s best interests and promote their physical and mental health and well-being
  • Encourage them to express their views, wishes and feelings
  • Take their views, wishes and feelings into account
  • Help them gain access to, and make best use of, services provided by the local authority and its partners
  • Encourage them to have high aspirations and try to secure the best outcomes for them
  • Make sure they are safe and have stability in their home lives, relationships and education or work
  • Prepare them for adulthood and independent living.
People pie chart

Our funding means we can currently only help 4 in 10 people

Your donation will help more families access expert legal advice and support from Family Rights Group.

Donate Now