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It explains how to outline the main concerns linked to the threshold of significant harm, summarize evidence-based information and impact, detail support already offered, and set clear actions and timescales to avoid court. 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It is intended to invite them to a Pre-Proceedings (PLO) Meeting.","Answer",{"name":112,"@type":107,"acceptedAnswer":113},"What information must the letter include to be effective?",{"text":114,"@type":110},"The letter should clearly state the seriousness of the matter, provide sufficient evidence-based detail about the concerns and changes needed, and acknowledge strengths within the family. It must also set out the meeting details, actions to take, and relevant timescales.",{"name":116,"@type":107,"acceptedAnswer":117},"What are the three main sections of the Letter Before Proceedings?",{"text":118,"@type":110},"The letter should include: Main Concerns, what support Children’s Services has offered to help the family, and what the parents need to do (including the support offered) to avoid going to court, with timescales.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":78,"og:type":121,"og:title":59,"og:site_name":91,"og:description":61},"article",{"robots":123,"canonical":78},"index,follow",{"doc_id":125,"site_id":56},276878,1790630299,{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":128},{"doc_id":125,"user_id":129,"nickname":88,"user_avatar":130,"doc_module":9,"category_id":40,"category_name":41,"doc_title":59,"doc_description":61,"doc_content":131,"file_id":132,"file_url":133,"file_type":134,"file_size":135,"view_count":101,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":9,"is_downloadable":9,"audit_status":9,"page_count":73,"language":136,"language_code":57,"site_id":56,"html_lang":57,"table_of_contents":137,"faqs":138,"seo_title":139,"seo_description":61,"update_tm":140,"read_time":9},962084925290,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_085a072bc5b1113ac321206ff7593b45","Letter Before Proceedings  \nThe Letter Before Proceedings is a letter that is sent to parents when Children’s Services are thinking about starting care proceedings. It outlines the main concerns and identifies the help that has been provided by Children’s Services so far.  \nMost Children’s Services will have their own internal procedures and templates for practitioners to use when writing a Letter Before Proceedings. Social workers are advised to first consult with their local procedures when writing one.  \nAn example of a Letter Before Proceedings can be found here:  Bradford Council Children’s Services PLO lettter example  \nOverall, the letter should invite the parents to a Pre-Proceedings (PLO) Meeting and advise them to find a Solicitor who specialises in family law and to get their wider family involved. The Letter Before Proceedings triggers free legal advice for parents which helps them to understand the seriousness of the concerns. The letter should:  \n> Be sent to all the parents and adults who have parental responsibility for the relevant children.  \n> Be clear about the seriousness of the matter.  \n> Provide sufficient detail to inform the parents and their lawyers of the concerns and changes that need to be made, but be succinct.  \n> Balance the concerns with acknowledgement of strengths within the family.  \n> Invite the parents to a pre-proceedings meeting, with reasonable notice of the meeting.  \n> Identify what the meeting will talk about, including the offer to work with the parents to address the identified concerns.  \n> Provide the date, time and location of the meeting and details of who will be invited.  \n> Ensure that arrangements are in place to hold separate meetings for parents to manage conflict or any risk to any of the adults.  \n> Consider whether the parent will need access to an advocate or intermediary service through the process.  \n> Advise the parent to take the letter to a solicitor for free advice via their entitlement to legal aid.  \n> Attach an up-to-date list of children law accredited solicitors in the local area.  \nWriting a Letter Before Proceedings  \nA Letter Before Proceedings should be drafted with care, recognising that this will be stressful and frightening for parents to receive and they may require support to understand and act upon it. Social workers may also want to consider the impact on the children and wider family of receiving the letter and what support the family may need during this time. When writing the letter social workers should ensure that they:  \n> Write directly to the person who will receive the letter using their name throughout.  \n> Be honest and respectful, trying to engage the adults rather than alienate them.  \n> Be written clearly in plain language which is jargon-free and avoids abbreviations.  \n> Ensure that the family have access to the letter in their first language if necessary.  \n> Consider making personalised accommodations in how the letter is presented to ensure it is accessible to parents who have specific accessibility needs relating to language, literacy or disability.  \n> Include brief evidence for concerns and give timescales for change.  \nContent of a Letter Before Proceedings:  \nThe Letter Before Proceedings should include 3 main sections. This includes:  \nMain Concerns  \n> These concerns should relate to the risks that are associated with the threshold of significant harm to the children that has been met in order to enter pre-proceedings.  \n> It should be a succinct summary of main concerns and impact for the child(ren) and why it has left social workers worried about their safety.  \n> Ensure that the information is evidence-based and can be relied on in court if necessary. What support Children’s Services have offered to try and help the family  \n> Social workers should avoid writing that support has been provided through a plan such as CIN or CP – parents and carers are unlikely to recognise this process as a support.  \n> Include a descr","cbCaite8HYshquIL","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaite8HYshquIL","pdf",34712,"English","# Letter Before Proceedings overview\n## Purpose and audience\n## What the letter should include\n# Writing a Letter Before Proceedings\n## Approach and language requirements\n## Accessibility and evidence\n# Content structure: 3 main sections\n## Main concerns\n## Support already offered\n## Required actions and timescales\n# Practical considerations and additional resources","[{\"question\":\"Who should receive a Letter Before Proceedings?\",\"answer\":\"It should be sent to all parents and adults who have parental responsibility for the relevant children. It is intended to invite them to a Pre-Proceedings (PLO) Meeting.\"},{\"question\":\"What information must the letter include to be effective?\",\"answer\":\"The letter should clearly state the seriousness of the matter, provide sufficient evidence-based detail about the concerns and changes needed, and acknowledge strengths within the family. It must also set out the meeting details, actions to take, and relevant timescales.\"},{\"question\":\"What are the three main sections of the Letter Before Proceedings?\",\"answer\":\"The letter should include: Main Concerns, what support Children’s Services has offered to help the family, and what the parents need to do (including the support offered) to avoid going to court, with timescales.\"}]","Letter Before Proceedings - Invitation to Pre-Proceedings Meeting | PDF",1789495842]