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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.
What should parents do first if they receive a letter before proceedings?
After receiving a letter before proceedings there are seven things parents should do:
- Contact a solicitor specialising in children law (see How can a parent find a solicitor and what exactly is their role in the pre-proceedings process?)
- Note the date of the pre-proceedings meeting and ask the solicitor to go with them
- Talk to the solicitor before the meeting about what they will say to children’s services about changes they are going to make to help keep the child safe
- Let the social worker know that they will be going to the meeting
- Talk to wider family and friends about what support they can give to help address the concerns
- Speak with wider family and friends to find out if anyone could care for the child in the short (or long) term if this becomes necessary
- Ask the child’s social worker to arrange a family group conference (FGC).
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