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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What should be in a child in need plan?

A child in need plan should set out:

  • The child’s health or developmental needs
  • What help is needed and what will be provided (for example help with childcare, essential equipment)
  • Who will do each action agreed, along with a timescale
  • How long the help will be available
  • What difference the help is expected to make
  • When the plan will be looked at again to check it is helping
  • What will happen if the plan isn’t working.

The plan should reflect positive things about the family situation as well as weaknesses.

See Working Together 2018, page 38.

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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.

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