Contact
Social Services are under a duty to promote contact, including paying for transport for parents, and other help, throughout the Court Process. Sometimes the arrangements for contact are inadequate, and the Court can be asked to make a specific ruling about it. The sad fact is that the number of foster carers is not great in some areas, and children may be placed many miles from their parents during the Court Proceedings, so that contact is difficult to arrange. It may also be that this is a testing process to see if the parents can meet the commitment expected of them. All of this is the subject of detailed negotiation and needs legal help.
The Final Care Plan, if it involves adoption, or some other long-term placement outside the family may include a plan for contact to be severely restricted. Social Services are under a duty to promote contact unless an Order is made by the Court releasing them from this duty. This may be the subject of a specific application to the Court.