How to contact us for advice
We provide advice to parents, grandparents, relatives, friends and kinship carers who are involved with children’s services in England or need their help. 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.
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). For Textphone dial 18001 followed by the advice line number. Or you can ask us a question via email using our advice enquiry form.
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.
Our get help and advice section describes the processes that you and your family are likely to go through, so that you know what to expect. Our webchat service can help you find the information and advice on our website which will help you understand the law and your rights.
Family Rights Group has launched the councillors’ network as a forum for sharing knowledge and ideas on improving outcomes for children and support for parents and kinship carers.
The national charity works to ensure the child welfare and family justice systems supports children to live safely and thrive within their family, while strengthening the family and community networks of those children who cannot live at home.
Family Rights Group were recently successful in securing a major three year grant from The Legal Education Foundation for an initiative working with the judiciary, local authorities and families to improve early and pre-proceedings work with families in the interests of children.
The new network is free to join and open to councillors of all political parties. It will include regular e-communications, written briefings and invites to exclusive councillor events.
“The children’s social care system has been described as being in crisis and that was before the pandemic exacerbated the stresses faced by families and local services further. Local authorities, communities and families are contending with severe financial pressures.
“Despite national child welfare legislation, there are stark differences between localities in the numbers of children subject to child protection and care proceedings, and the number of children supported to live in kinship care when they can’t remain at home. Local authorities are adopting different approaches, cultures and innovations.
“Lead councillors with responsibility for children’s services drive the agenda in their local child welfare system. Collectively, they also have a lot to offer the national debate around system reform and best practice.
“We want to work with councillors to deliver on what we think is a shared mission, to ensure the child welfare and family justice systems supports children to live safely and thrive within their family, while strengthening the family and community networks of those children who cannot live at home.
“We have substantial experience working with families, practitioners, academics, local authorities and the courts to pioneer innovative approaches to child welfare. We are keen to share our knowledge, advice and ideas on improving children’s social care and delivering better outcomes for children.
“We see it as a partnership for change, complementing the work of the LGA and others.”
Jordan Hall
Public Affairs Officer
07917 802 073
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