Social Services Court Orders

Listed below are the main Social Services court orders used within the child protection system, however the judge will take whatever view and use whatever tools he feels fits the need of the child.

The judge on the day in question will have been provided with all the reports before you even get to court in most cases, but if the need to act quickly as in Emergency orders he will act first and consider afterwards.

See Court main section for more details on the system, never let the system do it alone. CAFCASS so called welfare officers or Guardian et Litum's are not to be trusted, they are supposed to look after the children's views, but they are biased, being Social Services trained and therefore in bed with them. More again on these people in the Court section. Always, if your child is of an age to understand, try to ensure they request to see the judge, so they can talk to him. I can not stress this enough.

1) Emergency Protection Orders
If the court thinks it dangerous for your child to live at home, or someone else should leave your home, then it can make an order. This sort of order usually lasts for eight days and will never last more than 15 days. Your child might leave home for a short while, until the court has enough information to act, effectively. If your child does leave home, family and friends can still visit them, if your child requests this.

2) Care Orders
The court might make a care order if it thinks it is not safe for your child to live at home.

3) Supervision Orders
This order means your child stays at home, but a Social Worker would be in contact with you and your child. There might be directions attached requiring you to do specific things, like keeping doctors appointments.

4) Section 8 Orders
Sometimes the court will decide where a child or young person should live, (Residence Order); or who can see them, (Court Order). This, of course would be difficult to force on a child of say fourteen or fifteen, so the child's wishes are very much taken on board. Although, the judge may have other views!

5) Police Protection
The police can take your child into police protection if they think your child is in immediate danger. This can only last up to 72 hours and they must inform you and a Social Worker of the whereabouts of your child.

6) Criminal Cases
If your child has been abused very badly, then the person or people who abused them may be charged.

7) Child Assessment Orders
A Child Assessment Order may be made as part of a child protection investigation. If the court thinks there might be medical evidence that your child may have been hurt or abused. Medical evidence means facts which show your child has been hurt on purpose.

Keep in mind that if your child refuses to undergo any medical examination, this can not be done against the child's wishes.

8) All court orders will be put in place only after reports from SSD and other agencies have been looked at by the judge. You will get the chance to not only have solicitors and barristers working for you, (even if you have no income, the law must provide these), but more important you will be able to give your views as well.

9) To be continued....