Îngrijirea și protecția copiilor

Welfare Principle — The child's welfare is the court's paramount consideration in any decision about their upbringing (s.1 CA 1989).

No Order Principle — The court should not make an order unless it would be better for the child than making no order (s.1(5)).

Parental Responsibility — Rights, duties, powers, and responsibilities a parent has in law in relation to a child. Mothers have automatic PR; fathers acquire it through marriage, registration, agreement, or court order.

Significant Harm — The threshold for care proceedings: the child is suffering or likely to suffer significant harm attributable to the care given or the child being beyond parental control (s.31(2)).

Section 47 Investigations — Local authorities must investigate where they have reasonable cause to suspect a child is suffering or likely to suffer significant harm.

Care and Supervision Orders — Courts can place a child in local authority care (care order) or under supervision (supervision order) if threshold criteria met.

Child Arrangements Orders — Regulate with whom a child lives and spends time (replaced residence and contact orders).

Safeguarding Duties — Local Safeguarding Children Partnerships coordinate safeguarding across agencies (Children Act 2004, as amended).