Click here to enter Address 1 Block / tel:
ask for: / Lauren Hutton
email: /
fax:
our ref: / LHU/CHP/KEN001:112323
your ref:
date: / 15 September 2017
Dear Click here to enter Full Name
Re: I[nf_AllChildrenDOBPart1Inf_AllChildrenDOBPart2ChildOneNameDOB]
LETTER BEFORE PROCEEDINGS
I am writing to let you know how concerned Kent County Council has become about your care of your child/ren [Inf_AllChildrenOneChildFullName]. I am writing to tell you that the Council is thinking about starting care proceedings in respect of [Inf_AllChildrenFirstNamesOneChildFirstName]. This means that we may apply to Court, and [Inf_AllChildrenFirstNamesOneChildFirstName] could, if the Court decides that this is best for [him/her/them], be taken into care. We have set out in this letter the concerns that we have about [Inf_AllChildrenFirstNamesOneChildFirstName] and the things that have been done to try and help your family.
How To Avoid Going To Court
We are so worried about your child/ren that we will go to Court unless you can improve things. There are things you can do to stop this happening. Attached to this letter is a list of the things we are worried about and the action you can take to stop this going to Court.
OR
AN IMPORTANT MEETING ABOUT WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT
Please come to a meeting with us to talk about these concerns at [time] on [date] at our offices at [Inf_SWSingleLineAdd]. There is a map with this letter to help you find our offices. Please contact your social worker [Inf_SocialWorkerName] on [Inf_SocialWorkerTelephoneNo] to tell us if you will come to the meeting.
At the meeting we will discuss our concerns with you and tell you what you need to do to make your child/ren safe. We will also talk to you about how we will support you to do this. We will also make clear what we will do if we continue to be worried about [Inf_AllChildrenFirstNamesOneChildFirstName].
Take this letter to a solicitor and ask them to come to the meeting with you. I enclose a list of local solicitors who work with children and families. If you don’t already have a solicitor, I suggest that you choose one from the enclosed list or alternatively visit the Law Society website at http://solicitors.lawsociety.org.uk/ or telephone the Law Society on 020 7242 1222. Your solicitor will advise you about getting free legal advice. You do not have to bring a solicitor to the meeting but it would be helpful if you do.
Your solicitor will need to know that the solicitor dealing with this case for Kent County Council is Lauren Hutton. His/her address is: Priory Gate, 29 Union Street, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 1PT and the phone number is .
WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF YOU DO NOTHING
If you do nothing we will go to Court. If you do not answer this letter or come to the meeting, we will go to Court as soon as we can to make sure [Inf_AllChildrenFirstNamesOneChildFirstName ] is/are safe.
YOUR WIDER FAMILY
Our concerns about [Inf_AllChildrenFirstNamesOneChildFirstName] are very serious. If we have to go to Court and the Court decides you cannot care for [him/her/them], we will first try and place [Inf_AllChildrenFirstNamesOneChildFirstName] with one of your relatives, if it is best for your child/ren to do this. At the meeting we will want to talk to you and your solicitor about who might look after your child/ren if the Court decides that it is no longer safe for you to do so. Please provide us with the names and contact details of anyone you wish to put forward as a possible permanent carer for [Inf_AllChildrenFirstNamesOneChildFirstName].
PLEASE BRING A SOLICITOR TO THE MEETING ON [date]
We look forward to seeing you at the meeting with you solicitor on [date]. If you do not understand any part of this letter, please contact your social worker [Inf_SocialWorkerName] on [Inf_SocialWorkerTelephoneNo]. Please tell your social worker if you need any help with child care or transport arrangements in order to come to the meeting, and we will try to help.
Yours sincerely
Click here to enter Full Name
Click here to enter Job Title
For Invicta Law
[Inf_TeamManagerName]
Team Manager
[name] office
for Director of Children’s Services
cc: [Inf_SocialWorkerName], Social Worker
Legal Services
Enc: Map of office
List of local Law Society Children Panel Solicitors
List of things we are worried about
Written Agreement
HERE ARE THE MAIN THINGS THAT WE ARE WORRIED ABOUT:[Concern1] [Outline concern(s) and give the most significant examples of when this happened - this should capture chronic ongoing concerns as well as acute episodes/incidents]
Date(s) / What happened
1.
2.
3.
[Concern2]
Date(s) / What happened
4.
5.
6.
WHAT CHILDREN’S SERVICES HAVE DONE TO TRY TO HELP SO FAR
Date(s) / What help was offered
1.
2.
WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO SO THAT WE WILL NOT GO TO COURT:
1. / Confirm that you will come to a meeting to talk about these concerns. Please try to bring a solicitor with you.
2. / Participate in an assessment by the Parenting Capacity Assessment Service. You will be receiving a draft assessment plan in the post which you should take to your solicitor.
3. / Continue to see and work with your social worker [Inf_SocialWorkerName] and allow [him/her] to see [Inf_AllChildrenFirstNamesOneChildFirstName].
4. / At the meeting you will be asked to talk about how [Inf_AllChildrenFirstNamesOneChildFirstName] will be kept safe, with our help.
5. / [Any other action(s) required]
We enclose a written agreement which you should also take to your solicitor to consider. You will be asked to sign that agreement at the meeting.
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