Child Abuse Solicitors: Abuse and Neglect

Expert legal support when children’s safety is at risk

When concerns are raised about a child’s welfare, it can be one of the most distressing and overwhelming experiences a family can face. In these situations, it is essential to have clear, compassionate legal advice from specialist child abuse solicitors who understand the complexities of child protection law and care proceedings.

At AFG Law, our specialist team of child abuse lawyers supports parents, relatives, and carers who find themselves involved with children’s services, as well as those experiencing domestic abuse that affects the safety and wellbeing of children. We provide sensitive guidance, robust representation, and practical solutions to help protect your family and secure the best possible outcome for your child.

What is child abuse?

Child abuse is any action or failure to act by a parent, carer, or another adult that causes significant harm to a child’s health, development, or wellbeing. It can take many different forms, and in England and Wales the law recognises several categories of abuse, including:

• Physical abuse – deliberately causing physical harm, such as hitting, shaking, burning, or otherwise injuring a child.
• Emotional abuse – persistent behaviour that damages a child’s emotional development, such as constant criticism, rejection, intimidation, or exposure to domestic abuse.
• Sexual abuse – forcing or enticing a child to take part in sexual activities, whether or not the child understands what is happening.
• Neglect – the ongoing failure to meet a child’s basic physical and emotional needs, such as food, shelter, clothing, supervision, medical care, or attention.

Children can also be harmed by being exposed to domestic abuse in the home, even if they are not directly targeted.

Child abuse is taken extremely seriously under the law. Local authorities (through children’s services) have a duty to investigate concerns, and the family courts can step in through care proceedings to protect a child potentially suffering abuse if necessary.

What do child abuse solicitors do?

Child abuse solicitors specialise in cases where there are concerns about a child’s safety or welfare. This does not mean every case involves proven abuse. In fact, many families seek advice because children’s services have become involved and parents need help understanding their rights and responsibilities.

Our role is to:

• Advise parents and carers during social services investigations.
• Represent clients at meetings with children’s services, including child protection conferences.
• Provide urgent advice and representation where care proceedings are started in the family court.
• Support families in cases involving allegations of neglect, emotional harm, physical abuse, or exposure to domestic abuse.
• Act for relatives (such as grandparents, aunts, or uncles) who may wish to care for a child if parents are unable to do so.
• Assist survivors of domestic abuse in obtaining protective orders and ensuring their children are safeguarded.

Involvement of children’s services

If concerns are raised about a child, the local authority (through children’s services) has a legal duty to investigate. This can happen for many reasons, including:

• Reports from schools, medical professionals, or neighbours.
• Concerns raised by police following domestic incidents.
• Allegations made by a partner, former partner, or family member.
• Concerns about drug or alcohol use, mental health issues, or unsafe living conditions.

It is important to understand that an investigation by children’s services does not automatically mean a child will be removed from their parents’ care. The aim is to assess risk and determine whether support can be offered.

Our solicitors advise parents from the earliest stage of involvement. Having professional legal advice at this point can make a real difference, ensuring you understand the process and that your side of the story is heard.

Child Protection Conferences

If children’s services believe a child may be at risk of harm, they may arrange a child protection conference. This meeting involves professionals such as social workers, teachers, health visitors, and police officers, who come together to discuss concerns and decide whether a child protection plan should be put in place.

These meetings can feel intimidating, but our solicitors can:

• Help you prepare for the conference.
• Attend with you to ensure your views are expressed clearly.
• Advise on the decisions being made and what they mean for you and your child.

Care proceedings and the Family Court

If children’s services believe a child is at immediate risk of harm, they may apply to the family court for orders giving them responsibility for the child. This is known as care proceedings.

The most common orders sought are:

• Interim Care Order – giving the local authority temporary parental responsibility for the child.
• Care Order – placing the child in the care of the local authority on a long-term basis.
• Supervision Order – allowing the child to remain at home under the supervision of children’s services.

Care proceedings are extremely serious, as they can affect where a child lives and who makes decisions for them. Parents are automatically entitled to free legal aid if the local authority issues care proceedings, regardless of income.

Our child abuse solicitors provide strong representation in court, ensuring parents and relatives have their say, that all evidence is properly tested, and that the child’s best interests remain at the centre of decision-making.

Kinship care and relatives’ rights

In many cases, if parents are unable to care for their children safely, relatives such as grandparents, aunts, or uncles may wish to step in. This is known as kinship care.

Courts generally prefer to keep children within their family network if it is safe to do so. Our solicitors regularly advise relatives who want to be assessed as carers. We can guide you through:

• Special Guardianship Orders (SGOs).
• Child Arrangements Orders.
• Support and assessment processes undertaken by children’s services.

Domestic abuse and child protection

Sadly, domestic abuse is a common reason why children’s services become involved with families. Even if the abuse is not directed at the child, witnessing or being exposed to violence can be considered harmful.

Our solicitors help survivors of domestic abuse by:

• Applying for Non-Molestation Orders to protect you and your child from an abusive partner or family member.
• Applying for Occupation Orders to exclude an abuser from the family home.
• Representing you in court proceedings to ensure you and your children remain safe.

If you are experiencing domestic abuse, it is vital to seek help quickly. We can act urgently to secure protective orders and make sure children’s services understand the risks you face.

Challenging allegations of child abuse or neglect

In some cases, parents or carers may face allegations of child abuse or neglect that they strongly deny. Such allegations can arise from misunderstandings, disputes between separated parents, or false reports.

Our solicitors will:

• Carefully analyse the evidence presented by children’s services.
• Challenge inaccurate or unsubstantiated claims.
• Obtain independent expert evidence if necessary.
• Ensure your rights as a parent are respected throughout the process.

Our team of solicitors have many years of experience in defending child abuse cases. If you are facing allegations of abuse or neglect, contact or experts today.

Support throughout the process

Facing involvement with children’s services or the family courts is frightening and stressful. Many parents feel overwhelmed, confused, and unsure about their rights. At AFG Law, we pride ourselves on providing:

• Clear advice – explaining each step of the process in plain English.
• Strong representation – ensuring your voice is heard in meetings and in court.
• Compassionate support – understanding the emotional impact these cases have on families.
• Practical solutions – working towards the best possible outcome for your child.

Why choose AFG law?

Child protection cases are some of the most sensitive and complex areas of family law. If you are facing involvement with children’s services, allegations of abuse or neglect, or if you are a survivor of abuse worried about your children, it is essential to seek urgent, expert legal advice.

• Specialist expertise – our family law solicitors are highly experienced in cases involving child protection, care proceedings, and domestic abuse.
• Legal Aid available – parents automatically qualify for free legal aid in care proceedings.
• Accessible and local – we support families across Bolton, Bury, Stockport, and the wider region.
• Trusted and compassionate – we combine legal expertise with a caring approach, recognising the difficult circumstances our clients face.

At AFG Law, our dedicated child abuse solicitors provide compassionate support and robust representation throughout care proceedings, child protection conferences, and domestic abuse cases. We work tirelessly to protect your rights, support your family, and secure the best possible future for your children.

If you need advice about care proceedings, children’s services involvement, or domestic abuse, our solicitors are here to help. Contact us on 01204 920107 or email familysolicitor@afglaw.co.uk to arrange a confidential consultation.

*Unfortunately, we are unable to assist with child abuse compensation claims. If you wish to make a claim for compensation for child abuse or historic child abuse, we recommend that you speak to a personal injury lawyer.*