Will a parent or carer know where their child is living? Can they remove their child from the voluntary arrangement? What if children’s services are worried about the child being removed?

Children’s services have a duty to share with the parents (and others) with parental responsibility) where a child who is looked after in a voluntary arrangement is living (see schedule 2, paragraph 15 of the Children Act 1989). There is no exception to this duty.

A parent or carer may be able to remove a child from a voluntary arrangement, but this will depend on the specific situation and some exceptions do apply.

This is all set out step by step below:

1. It is important to first be clear about whether the parent or carer has parental responsibility for a child. There is some helpful information and ‘quick facts’ about parental responsibility at the end of this page. This may be helpful for anyone who is unsure about what parental responsibility is or who has it for their child
2. If a parent or carer with parental responsibility for the child objects to the voluntary arrangement continuing, they can remove their child at any time. But they can only do this if they can:

• • Provide the child with a place to live, or can
  • Arrange a place for the child to stay and be cared for

3. Even then there are two further exceptions. If one of these exceptions the parent or carer will still not be able to remove their child from the arrangement. These are the exceptions:

Exception one:

• There is a child arrangements order or special guardianship order in place and
• The person who has that order does not agree to the child being removed from the voluntary arrangement (see section 20 (9) of the Children Act 1989)

Exception two:

• The child is aged 16 or 17 and
• The child wishes to stay in the voluntary arrangement (see section 20(11) of the Children Act 1989).

4. If a parent or carer with parental responsibility is in a position to remove their child (because neither of the exceptions apply) then they:

• Should very clearly (‘unequivocally’) tell children’s services they want their child to be returned to their care
• Do not need to put this in writing
• Can remove their child at any time. No notice is required and no restrictions should put on their right to remove their child
• Can ask for the immediate return of their child. Or may ask for return at a fixed time.
  See the case of Williams & Anor v LB Hackney [2018] UKSC 37 at paragraphs 37 and 44

But it is always a good idea for parents or carers to discuss their plans with children’s services before carrying them out.

What if children’s services are worried about the child being removed from the voluntary arrangement?

If children’s services are worried and they think what is planned means the child is likely to suffer significant harm they should apply to the Family Court for an order to protect the child.

This could be an emergency protection order. Or an interim care order.

Getting advice

If a parent or carer is thinking about removing their child from a voluntary arrangement and this is against the wishes of children’s services, it will be helpful to seek some independent legal advice first.

This could:

• Be advice from a solicitor. To find a solicitor, search using the ‘how to find a solicitor’ function on the Law Society website. Look for someone who is a children law specialist. Or who has Children Law Accreditation. For information about finding a solicitor and working with them, please see our top tips guide Working with a solicitor. Free legal aid for advice from a solicitor in relation to voluntary arrangements may be limited unless care (or related) proceedings are ongoing
• Include posting a question on our Parents Forum, to receive advice from one our expert advisers, or for further advice or in complex situations
• Contacts us – call Family Rights Group’s specialist legal and practice advice line on 0808 801 0366 (the advice line is open Monday to Friday, from 9.30 am to 3 pm excluding bank holidays).