Everything You Need to Know About a PLO Meeting

Everything You Need to Know About a PLO Meeting

1. Introduction: A Key Step in the Process

There are few things worse for a parent than the prospect of having their children removed from them by the state. It is therefore absolutely essential that any parent facing such a prospect should fully understand the process that the Local Authority will follow when it has serious concerns about the welfare of a child.

A key step in that process is the Public Law Outline Meeting (usually shortened to simply ‘PLO Meeting’), which can also be referred to as the ‘Pre-Proceedings Meeting’. The meeting will usually take place at the local authority offices, and the parents will be invited to attend.

In this article we will look in detail at PLO Meetings, including explaining explain what they are, how they fit into the process, what parents should do before the meeting, and what may happen after it.

But first we need to explain exactly what is meant by the Public Law Outline.

2. What is the Public Law Outline?

The Public Law Outline is the name given to the process that the Local Authority must follow when it has serious concerns about the welfare of a child and is considering the possibility of seeking a care order.

The PLO sets out the procedure that must be followed both before and after the issue of court proceedings (unless the case is considered to be so urgent that court proceedings should be commenced immediately). The process before is usually referred to as ‘Pre-Proceedings’, and the process after sets out the stages and timescales of the court proceedings.

In this article we will be primarily concerned with the pre-proceedings process.

Before we explain the pre-proceedings process it is important to understand that, despite its name, it does not mean that court proceedings will always

follow the process. Indeed, as we will see, a primary aim of the process is to give the parents a last chance to avoid court proceedings.

In simple terms, the pre-proceedings process takes place in three stages:

• Letter Before Proceedings: The process is begun by the Local Authority sending to the parents a Letter Before Proceedings. The letter will set out the concerns the Local Authority has for the child, what has been done so far to address those concerns, and will invite the parents to the PLO Meeting, which must take place within seven days of receiving the letter. Parents should make sure that they keep the letter safe, so that they can show it to their solicitor.
• PLO Meeting: This is effectively a final attempt to keep the matter out of court. We will explain in detail below what will, or may, happen at the meeting.
• Review: After the meeting the case will be reviewed by the Local Authority, to decide what should happen next. Again, we will go into this in greater detail below, but obviously the Local Authority may decide that care proceedings should be commenced.

3. How Parents Can Prepare for the PLO Meeting

When parents receive a Letter Before Proceedings then they must act quickly. In particular they should:

• Find a Specialist Child Care Solicitor, if they have not instructed one already. The solicitor will be able to attend the PLO Meeting with the parents, and ensure that the local authority acts fairly. (If the solicitor is not available on the day of the meeting, then they should be able to re-arrange the meeting with the local authority.) And there is no need to worry about the cost of instructing a solicitor, as legal aid is available for parents on a non-means, non-merits tested basis. This means that regardless of their means, they are eligible, and the legal aid is completely free.
• Go Through the Letter Before Proceedings: It is usually helpful if, before attending the PLO Meeting, the parents go through the Letter Before Proceedings in detail, noting down anything they do not understand and anything they do not agree with, and considering what extra support they might require to address the local authority’s concerns, in order to make things better.
• Discuss With Family and Friends: In many case it may be helpful to discuss what has happened with other family members, or trusted friends. Wider family members and friends will not be invited to the PLO Meeting, but if they can offer help then the parents can request that they be included in a separate meeting, known as a ‘Family Group Conference’.

4. What Happens at the PLO Meeting

The PLO Meeting will be attended by:

• The parents of the child, and anyone else who has parental responsibility for the child;
• The parents’ solicitor;
• The child’s social worker and their team manager;
• The local authority’s lawyer; and
• Any interpreter required by the parents.

Exactly what happens at the meeting will vary from case to case, but it will, or may, include the following:

• Local Authority Explain their Concerns: The local authority (Children’s Services) will begin the meeting by setting out their concerns for the child. The parents will be given the opportunity to respond to the concerns, with the help of their solicitor. Any extra support that the parents or child may need will be discussed.
• Assessments: Children’s Services may ask the parents to undergo an assessment, for example a Parenting Assessment by a social worker, or a Psychiatric Assessment, if the parents, or one of them, has mental health needs. If this is agreed, then a letter of instruction may be drafted, setting out exactly what the person carrying out the assessment is being asked to do, and when the assessment needs to be carried out.
• Written Agreement: Children’s services may request the parents to sign up to a written agreement, or Action Plan, setting out what they will, or will not, do. For example, the parents may agree not to drink alcohol whilst they are caring for the child, or to undertake drug testing. The agreement will also set out any assessments that the parents have agreed to, and what extra support is to be provided to the parents and/or the child.
• Review Meeting: The PLO Meeting will usually end with everyone agreeing a date for a Review Meeting, which will normally take place about six to eight weeks later (depending upon how long any assessments may take).

5. What Happens After the PLO Meeting

After the review has taken place, there are really three possible outcomes:

• No Further Action: If the local authority is satisfied with the progress made by the parents, such that they no longer have serious concerns over the child’s welfare, then they may decide to end the pre-proceedings process.
• Further Work Required: If the local authority still have concerns, but believe that those concerns may be addressed by further work being done, then it will explain what further work is required, and fix a date for another review, after that work has been completed.
• Court Proceedings: Finally, if the local authority feel that their concerns cannot be addressed and that a care order is the only way to protect the child, then they may decide to begin court proceedings. If they do, then they will send a letter to the parents, informing them that care proceedings are being started, and what this means.

6. Common Myths and Misconceptions about PLO Meetings

As with so many things family law-related, various myths and misconceptions have arisen regarding PLO Meetings. Hopefully, the above will have dispelled most myths or misconceptions that parents may have about PLO Meetings, but in case it has not, we will respond to three common myths and misconceptions here:

• Myth #1: “A PLO meeting means my child is being taken away immediately.” This is not true. The meeting, and the whole pre-proceedings process, is aimed at seeing whether the local authority’s concerns can be satisfactorily addressed, so that the child can remain with the parents. And as explained above, just because it is often referred to as a ‘Pre-Proceedings Meeting’ does not mean that court proceedings will always follow.
• Myth #2: “I can’t afford a lawyer for the meeting.” This is also not true. As also explained above, legal aid for is available for PLO meetings, on a non-means-tested (i.e. 100% free) basis.
• Myth #3: “Social workers have already made up their minds, so there is no point attending.” Again, this is not true. No final decision will have been made, and it is therefore absolutely essential that the parents attend the meeting, preferably with a solicitor.

7. Seeking Legal Help

This article is only an outline of the law relating to PLO Meetings and the pre-proceedings process. If you have received a Letter Before Proceedings then it is essential that you seek specialist legal advice as soon as possible. As mentioned above, legal aid is available.

Walker Family Law’s team of specialist child care lawyers can provide you with the expert help that you need, including representing you in any court proceedings that might follow the PLO Meeting. To speak with one of our lawyers, simply complete and submit the form, on this page.

For more information regarding local authorities and children, and the services that Walker Family Law provide, see here.