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Children and local authority care

What is a care order

When a child is made the subject of a care order, the local authority has legal responsibility for the child. This is called parental responsibility. As parents you continue to have parental responsibility. However, the local authority can limit your parental responsibility if this is necessary in the interests of the child's welfare.

The local authority will decide where your child should live but this will normally be away from home.

When will a local authority seek a care order

A local authority will seek a court order if your child is not receiving the sort of care it would be reasonable to expect from a parent, and this lack of care is causing the child significant harm. The court will decide whether or not a child is suffering harm in this way.