Court Orders used to protect children

Emergency Protection Order (EPO)
Care Orders
Supervision Orders
Section 8 Orders
Police Protection
Criminal Cases
Child Assessment Orders

Emergency Protection Orders (EPO)

If the court thinks it would be dangerous for a child to live at home, or thinks someone else should leave the home, then it can make an EPO. This might be because someone has called the police or social services if they are worried that a child is being hurt, or it could be because a child has told someone that they are being hurt.

Emergency protection orders are granted for:

• individual applicants, where the child will suffer significant harm if not removed.
• Plymouth City Council, where enquiries are being made for other orders, and where these enquiries are being frustrated or unreasonably refused.
• authorised persons, where there is reasonable cause to suspect the occurrence or likelihood of significant harm.

An EPO usually lasts for eight days and never more than 15 days. The child might have to leave home for a short while (but never longer than 15 days, unless the court decides that a Care Order is necessary). If the child does have to leave home, family and friends can still visit them if the child wants this.

Care Orders

The court might make a Care Order if it thinks it is not safe for a child to live at home. It will give Plymouth City Council the same responsibilities as a parent and decisions can be taken as to where the child may live.

Supervision Orders

This order means that the child can still stay at home, but a social worker would be in regular contact with the child and their parents. There may be directions attached to the order asking parents to do something specific, such as making sure their child attends a Family Centre or keeps medical appointments. [Back to top]

Section 8 Orders

Contact Orders state that a child must be allowed to either visit or stay with, or have indirect contact with, the person named in the order. They can also prohibit contact with the person named in the order.

A Prohibited Steps Order states that a parent may take no steps toward meeting certain aspects of their parental responsibility for a child, without the consent of the court.

A Residence Order specifies the arrangements to be made regarding the person a child lives with.

A Specific Issue Order gives directions regarding a specific question which has arisen, or which may arise, in connection with any aspect of parental responsibility for a child

Police Protection

The police can take your child into police protection if they think that they are in immediate danger. This will usually last for up to 72 hours and they must inform you and a Social Worker of the child's whereabouts.

Criminal Cases

If your child has been seriously abused then the person or people who abused them may be charged.

Child Assessment Orders

A Child Assessment Order may be made as part of a child protection investigation. It means the court thinks that there may be medical evidence that the child may have been hurt or abused. Medical evidence means facts that show that the child has been hurt on purpose or in ways that wouldn't usually happen to them.

Under this type of order a child does not have to leave home if they do not wish to, however, if they do leave home it will usually be only for a few days, and they can still see their family and friends if they want to. [Back to top]