This book aims to provide a comprehensive account of law and practice in England and Wales in relation to child protection law. It covers all stages of proceedings from initial protective measures (Police Protection, Emergency Protection Orders and Interim Care Orders) to final hearing and final orders, including Final Care Orders and Placement Orders (where adoption is the proposed outcome), and appeals. Detailed consideration is given to the processes of gathering evidence and carrying out assessments, the court's case management powers, and the conduct of final hearings. This includes consideration of all aspects of the threshold for the making of orders, fact finding, and the welfare test for the making of orders. Child protection proceedings inevitably give rise to Human Rights Act arguments and these are discussed throughout the book.
The authors are both highly experienced specialist child care practitioners. They provide a practical guide that will be of use in their daily work to all lawyers, social work professionals and others who work in the field of child protection.
This edition is fully updated with reference to case law, statute, regulations and procedural guidance arising since the second edition was published in 2021.
This new edition features new or extended treatment of the topics of:
