The Welfare Checklist

What considerations are made by a Court when determining care arrangements for children?

There are many factors

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1. Primary Consideration: :KHQ FRXUWV DUH WDVNHG ZLWK making decisions regarding child arrangements, the SDUDPRXQW FRQVLGHUDWLRQ LV always the welfare and best LQWHUHVWV RI WKH FKLOGUHQ

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2. Quality of Relationships and Parenting:

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3. Consistency and Stability: &RXUWV UHFRJQLVH WKH importance of consistency DQG VWDELOLW\ LQ D FKLOGȆV

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4. Child’s Wishes and Feelings:

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5. Parental Cooperation: The level of cooperation and FRPPXQLFDWLRQ EHWZHHQ parents (or relevant family PHPEHUV LV DQRWKHU FUXFLDO factor considered by the FRXUW LQ GHWHUPLQLQJ ZKDW care arrangement will be appropriate and the level of parental contact GXULQJ KDQGRYHUV $ VKDUHG care arrangements will be considered viable and UHDOLVWLF LQ D VLWXDWLRQ LQ which the parents are FRQFLOLDWRU\ DQG FR RSHUDWLYH This may, however, be detrimental to a child in a

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6. Risk Assessment and Safeguarding:

&RXUWV FRQGXFW WKRURXJK ULVN assessments to identify any potential risks or concerns associated with child care DUUDQJHPHQWV 6DIHJXDUGLQJ PHDVXUHV DUH LPSOHPHQWHG WR PLWLJDWH ULVNV DQG HQVXUH WKH FKLOGȆV VDIHW\ DQG ZHOO being are prioritized at all WLPHV $W WKH YHU\ VWDUW RI D FDVH D &$)&$66 RࡺFHU is appointed to prepare a VDIHJXDUGLQJ OHWWHU PDNLQJ SROLFH DQG ORFDO DXWKRULW\ checks on the parents and family and reporting back WR WKH &RXUW WR KLJKOLJKW

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7. A Childs Age, sex and background:

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WKH ZLGHU IDPLO\ 5HOHYDQW professionals can be involved in the case to inform their decisions regarding the care arrangements, LQFOXGLQJ DVVHVVPHQWV E\ social workers where there KDV EHHQ ORFDO DXWKRULW\ involvement, psychologists, or other specialists to

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8. Best Interests Principle: 8OWLPDWHO\ WKH FRXUWȆV decision regarding contact DUUDQJHPHQWV LV JXLGHG E\ the overarching principle of SURPRWLQJ WKH FKLOGȆV EHVW LQWHUHVWV &DUH DUUDQJHPHQWV that are deemed to best serve WKH FKLOGȆV VDIHW\ ZHOIDUH DQG development are prioritised LQ FRXUW GHWHUPLQDWLRQV

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7KH FRQVXOWDWLRQ FDQ WDNH SODFH E\ WHOHSKRQH RU E\ ]RRP Please contact Kathryn Coyle on kcoyle@ kiddrapinet.co.uk or Zeneb Muneer on zmuneer@ kiddrapinet.co.uk or Francesca Rowe on frowe@ kiddrapinet.co.uk by telephone on 01628 659 411.