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

What is the best way to prepare for a pre-proceedings meeting?

The most important thing to do is to find a solicitor.

Parents and carers should be able to meet with their solicitor before the meeting. If the meeting is on a date the parent or their solicitor cannot make, the solicitor may speak with the children’s services lawyer to change the date.

Once a parent has found a solicitor, they can next read through the pre-proceedings letter again. It is a good idea to:

  • Read through the concerns that are set out in the pre-proceedings
  • Note down any questions they about what is said or anything that isn’t clear
  • Note down anything that they think is not accurate
  • Think about what extra help or support from children’s services or other agencies might help to improve things
  • Discuss what is happening with the wider family and friends network
  • Think about how family and friends might be able to help.

Discussing things with family and friends can be, or feel, difficult. But it will be helpful to involve them early on in the process. See How should re wider family and friends involved in the pre-proceedings process?

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