Care and supervision orders

Procedure

Under the Family Procedure Rules 2010 (FPR 2010), SI 2010/2955, provision is made by FPR 2010, PD 12A (the Public Law Outline (PLO)) for a tightly managed case management system in relation to proceedings under Part IV of the Children Act 1989 (ChA 1989) including:

1. •

   pre-proceedings checklists

2. •

   annex documents

3. •

   advocates' meetings

4. •

   case management hearings

5. •

   issues resolution hearings, and

6. •

   directions

See Practice Notes: Public law children procedure—Public Law Outline: overview and key principles, Public law children procedure—commencing proceedings under the Public Law Outline, Public law children procedure—case management under the Public Law Outline and Public law children procedure—extensions to the timetable and withdrawal of proceedings.

Local authority duties

Local authorities have duties to safeguard and promote the welfare of children in their area and must investigate where they have reasonable cause to suspect that a child in their area is suffering, or is likely to suffer, significant harm.

Typically a local authority may start an investigation where:

1. •

   it is directed to do so by the court

2. •

   there