Contact (Family Time) Issues in Public Children Law Cases

Introduction

Childcare practitioners will frequently be involved in discussions and disputes surrounding contact/ family time.

When a local authority gets involved in the lie of children and families, what are the obligations regarding contact/family time?

How does the position with contact vary when there are applications for care orders, placement orders and adoption orders? What is the current judicial approach to s.26 and s.51A orders?

These and other matters will be addressed in this webinar.

What You Will Learn

This webinar will cover the following:

• Contact issues in childcare proceedings
• Application of s.34(1) and s.34(6) CA 1989 - what is the difference?
• Applications under S.34(3) and s.34(4) CA 1989 - is it to refuse or to stop?
• Use of s.26 ACA 2022 and Placement Orders
• Use of S.51A ACA 2002 and post adoption contact principles
• Applications for leave to apply for a s.51A order
• President of the Family Division - adoption in the modern world
• S.26 Orders and need for an order following Re B-A (Placement Order and Contact Order) [2026]
• Use of Orders and Recitals - consideration of Re C, D, E and F (ACA s51A: contact order after adoption)
• Public law Working Group recommendation for best practice in adoption - matters relating to contact
• Template for future contact following Re R and C (Adoption or Fostering)
• Recitals reflecting endorsement of contact plans following Re S (Placement Order: Contact)

This pre-recorded webinar will be available to view from Monday 7th December 2026

Alternatively, you can gain access to this webinar and 2,400+ others via the MBL Webinar Subscription. Please email webinarsubscription@mblseminars.com for more details.