Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Related legal acts

Key definition

Care order definition

What does Care order mean? A care order is made in public children proceedings to place a child under local authority care and control and to authorise welfare decisions. In England and Wales, a care order under section 31 Children Act 1989 is granted where the significant harm threshold is met; it gives the authority parental responsibility and power to determine the extent to which a parent or other holder may exercise theirs, allowing the authority to override parental wishes where necessary for the child’s welfare (subject to court directions). An interim care order commonly operates pending final determination. Typical issues...

Care and Supervision Orders: Grounds, Interim and Final Orders, Legal Effects and Key Differences under the Children Act 1989 (England and Wales)

Published by a LexisNexis Local Government expert

Practice notes

This Practice Note addresses the most frequently raised queries concerning the legislative framework that underpins care and supervision orders. It presents an overview of the grounds for, and the effects of, both care and supervision orders, sets out who is entitled to apply for them, and draws attention to the principal differences between the two outcomes. It should be read alongside the procedural guide to public law proceedings relating to children contained in our Public children—Public law Outline 2014.

Care orders

What is a care order and what is its purpose?

A care order is an order made by the family court which permits a designated Local authority to share Parental Responsibility for a child with any other holders of parental responsibility (noting that where parental responsibility exists solely by virtue of a child arrangements order, the making of a care order will discharge that child arrangements order (CAO) and the parental responsibility arising from it). The purpose of a care order is to enable the local authority to share parental responsibility with the child’s parents, or any other holders of parental responsibility, in order to safeguard and promote the child’s health and welfare...

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Claire Cousin

Dodds Solicitors LLP

Claire is a solicitor who specialises in representing and advising parents, children and young people, extended family members and local authorities in relation to public family law. Claire's expertise particularly focuses on care proceedings and has experience of complex cases relating to non accidental injury and death, sexual abuse, substance misuse, mental health issues, forced marriage, parental alienation, neglect and domestic abuse. Claire has been a member of the Law Society's Children Panel Accreditation Scheme since 2013....

Web page updated on 21/05/2026

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