This guidance on court orders updates previous guidance and in particular sets out the arrangements that local authorities and their partners must put in place in considering and preparing for childcare proceedings, when all other avenues have been exhausted.

Local authorities and their partners must have regard to this guidance when considering making an application to the court for various orders under the Children Act 1989 in respect of children.

In particular it covers new arrangements for the preparation of child-care proceedings under section 31 of the Act.  One of the key features of the revised guidance is the multi-agency responsibility for working in partnership to ensure the safety of the child when considering child care proceedings.

From April 2008, local authorities will be responsible for court costs in care proceedings cases.  The Welsh Assembly Government added an additional sum to this year’s local government budget settlement in order to cover this element.

The guidance can be downloaded from the Welsh Assembly Government website.