A Care Order lasts until a child is aged 18. It may well be that the Care Plan
provides for this, or that it should be reviewed after a certain period of time.
If there is a later Adoption Order, then this will discharge the Care Order. If,
however, things have not gone as planned, then any party, parents, child or
Local Authority can apply to the Court to discharge the Care Order, or for
Directions regarding contact. Other issues, however, so long as the Care Order
is enforced, will be for the Local Authority to decide, and not normally the
subject of Court Proceedings.