Volume 1 is issued as guidance under section seven of the Local Authority Social Services Act 1970, which requires local authorities, in exercising their social services functions, to act under the general guidance of the Secretary of State for Education. The guidance should be complied with by local authorities when exercising these functions, unless local circumstances indicate exceptional reasons that justify a variation.

This statutory guidance is primarily addressed to children's services practitioners, front-line managers, and Directors of Children’s Services who have particular responsibilities for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.

It provides a complete account of the range of court orders set out in the Children Act 1989, including those that are predominantly used in private law proceedings, where local authorities are less often directly involved. The guidance also describes the key principles underpinning the Act and the roles of the police and of the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass).

Important changes to the Public Law Outline (PLO)

The PLO and related application forms, which are annexed in this guidance, have been updated. The changes came into force on 6 April 2010.

More information and downloadable versions of Practice Direction Public Law Proceedings Guide to Case Management: April 2010 and its accompanying documentation, including the pre-proceedings parents’ pack, are available from the HM Courts and Tribunals Service website. Due to these changes, the Children Act 1989 Volume 1: Court Orders is not currently available to order in hard copy.

This guidance includes:

  • Introduction
  • Parental Responsibility and Private Law Aspects of the Children Act 1989
  • Care and Supervision Orders
  • Protection of Children
  • Secure Accommodation Orders
  • Annexes – updated versions can be downloaded from the HM Courts and Tribunals Service website.