How to contact us for advice
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.
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.
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.
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.
The lead practitioner is the main contact for a child and their family when professionals from a number of different agencies (e.g. the school, doctor, health visitor or children’s services) are involved in a child’s life.
The lead practitioner should undertake an early help assessment of the child and family’s needs. They should co-ordinate delivery of support from all involved agencies.
The lead practitioner can come from any of the agencies working with the child. It will usually be the person who has the most contact with the child and their family.
Once children’s services have accepted a referral for a child because they think they may be in need or at risk of significant harm, the social worker becomes the lead practitioner.
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