Child Protection Proceedings: Care and Adoption Orders 3rd ed

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.

The new edition features new or extended treatment of the topics of:

• Cases with an international element
• The holding and conduct of separate fact finding hearings
• Supervision Orders and efforts to increase their effectiveness
• Orders to provide protection from domestic abuse
• Participation of vulnerable parties and witnesses, including assistance from intermediaries
• Secure Accommodation Orders and orders authorising Deprivation of Liberty under the Inherent Jurisdiction
• The changing Family Court with particular reference to the 2024 relaunch of the Public Law Outline and the impact of new technology including remote hearings and the Public Law Portal