That, in order to ensure that families have access to specialist advice to help them work positively with professionals, there is wider provision of free, independent, specialist legal advice for families, provided by the voluntary sector and funded adequately by Government.
That the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) considers the Review’s findings and undertakes an analysis of the impact of the lack of accessible early free, independent advice and information for parents and wider family members on the number of children subject to care proceedings or in care, and the associated costs to the public purse.
That the MoJ’s considerations are informed by a working group of stakeholders with appropriate expertise, drawn from the child welfare and family justice sector.
That parents are eligible to receive free legal advice and representation, equivalent to that available under a pre-proceedings process, where it is proposed by the local authority that the child is looked after under section 20 of the Children Act 1989 or section 76 of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014.