What should a letter before proceedings include?

Once a parent or person with parental responsibility receives a pre-proceedings letter, they are entitled to legal aid. It does not matter if they have a hard copy of the letter, or receive it via email.

They can take the letter to a specialist children law solicitor who will grant them legal aid. The solicitor will then be able to attend the pre-proceedings meeting with them. Most letters will include information about local specialist children law solicitors. Parents can choose their solicitor from this list. Or they are entitled to instruct a solicitor they find themselves.

The letter should set out why children’s services are worried. It may include a timeline of children’s services previous involvement with the child and family.  At the pre-proceedings meeting, the social worker should outline the concerns. But it is important that the letter provides some detail about their concerns in advance. If the letter is not clear parents, carers or their solicitor may want to write to children’s services before the meeting to ask for more information. This will help prepare for the meeting.

The letter before proceedings should invite parents to a pre-proceedings meeting. The letter should be sent in good time. This is important if parents are to have enough notice of the date, time and place of the meeting. They should be given enough time so that they can find a solicitor, get advice and prepare.

The purpose of the pre-proceedings meeting is to agree a plan.

The plan should address the concerns children’s services have. And aim to avoid the need to start care proceedings.

See the Pre-proceedings meeting section for more information and advice.

During the pre-proceedings process, parents may be asked to have a parenting assessment. This will look at how they care (or would care) for their child. It will look into how they manage any difficulties at home. Some parents may be asked to have a psychological assessment. Or to take part in a domestic abuse course.

Whatever is suggested it is important this is set out clearly before the meeting.

Children’s services should confirm:

• Who they suggest should do the assessment
• What the assessment will involve
• When it can start and how long it will take
• What questions the person doing the assessment will be asked to answer

Parents will then be able to discuss this with their solicitor

Children’s services should state what extra help or support they plan to put in place for the family. And what the aim of this help is.

The letter may ask if there is anyone in the child’s family and friends’ network who can provide support. Having some extra help from wider family and friends can be important. And may help to address some of the concerns children’s services have.

The letter may ask if anyone in the wider family and friends’ network could care for the child. This might be in the short term whilst assessment or other work is done. Or it could be in the longer term if the child can’t remain safely in their parents (or carers) care.

For more information about the best way of involving family and friends see How are wider family and friends involved in the pre-proceedings process?