Due to the serious safeguarding concerns, William and June were supported by our adviser to make an urgent application which was granted by the courts.
William and his wife June live in Blaenau Gwent. They have been looking after their son’s baby daughter since she was born. Social services have safeguarding concerns about the teenage parents and their ability to look after the child and have placed the baby with the couple indefinitely.
They want to make this a permanent and legally binding arrangement. Both parents and both sets of grandparents have agreed that the baby should remain with William and June.
There were concerns that the teenage parents may change their mind and would exercise their parental responsibilities and have the child removed from her grandparents.
After assessing the information available, our adviser was able to explain what options were available. William and June felt that a Special Guardianship Order would be the most appropriate course of action.
Our adviser explained that they would need to give their local authority 3 months notice of their intention to seek a Special Guardianship Order. She also explained that the court required the family to have sought mediation before the courts would consider the application.
Due to the serious safeguarding concerns, William and June were supported by our adviser to make an urgent application which was granted by the courts and a date for a hearing was set.
Our advice helped the couple make sense of the Family Courts and understand what options were available to them.
They feel they were empowered to act promptly to try and safeguard the baby and feel all their concerns have been taken into consideration.
