Children’s services may ask the parents to sign up to a written agreement. This should set out the things the parents and children’s services have said they will or will not do. What is included will depend on the situation and the precise concerns.
Examples of what written agreements may include are that:
- The parents agree not drink alcohol when their child is in their care
- The parents agree to take part in a parenting assessment
- Children’s services will put in place a particular kind of help or support by a certain date. Such as a family support worker.
Children’s services should always explain what will happen if the agreement is not kept to. If the parent does not keep to certain parts of the agreement, it may mean that children’s services look to start care proceedings. If a parent cannot keep to a certain point in the agreement, then they should discuss this with their solicitor.
It is helpful if children’s services give share a copy of the written agreement with parents before the pre-proceedings meeting.
If a written agreement is only shared in the meeting, parents should have time to read and discuss it with their solicitor. There should be a break in the meeting so this can happen.
There may be things that need to be added or changed in the agreement. If more time is needed then sometimes the agreement can be signed later on after the meeting. A parent should not sign a written agreement without reading it carefully, and taking legal advice on it.