Families

Your parents

All married parents and unmarried mothers (but not unmarried fathers) have legal parental responsibility for their children. This means that they are responsible for looking after their children and meeting their needs. If you are in care, this responsibility is split between your parent(s) and the local authority. Parental responsibility for you ends when you turn 18.

What your parents must do for you

Parents must;

  • Provide a home and care for you till you are 18. But once you reach 16 you can usually leave home without permission.
  • Provide discipline for you - and this does include smacking. By law this sort of punishment must be moderate and reasonable; if the authorities feel that unnecessary force is being used by parents then your name may be placed on a child protection register, or you may even be taken into care. Your parents may also be taken to court.
  • Make sure you receive full time education till you are 16.
  • Give consent to and medical treatment for you if you are under the age of 16 (unless it is a medical emergency).

Step parents

Step parents do not have parental responsibility in law for their children. They may help with day to day decisions, but important decisions must be made by the child's birth parent or parents. A step parent may apply for parental responsibility to the courts, or they may apply with the birth parent, to adopt the child.

Looked after?

These are the legal words to describe a child or young person who is either on a care order or placed by social services in foster/residential care by a voluntary agreement. Being looked after means you have certain rights about the way you are treated, what you can expect and who you can see. If you are being looked after by social services you should be:

  • Provided with the help you need,
  • Protected from harm,
  • Treated with respect and dignity,
  • Consulted on your views, and
  • Helped to participate in decisions about you.

Talk to someone you trust, like your carer or social worker if things aren't going right.

Nobody to talk to? Call the children's rights officer for looked after children on 0800 592639.

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