Introduction
Children should be brought up by their parents wherever it is safe for them to do so. Assistance to help parents to care for their children is available within the community and universal services. In the case of more difficult circumstances, more specialist services are available from the local authority and partner agencies and are identified through an assessment of need.
However, in some circumstances this assessment may indicate that the children are unable to remain in safety with their parent and alternative arrangements to safeguard the child are indicated.
It is the policy of South Gloucestershire Council that where a child or children are assessed as in need or deemed unable to remain safely with their parents, they should be cared for with a known family member or person connected to the family, and these arrangements will always be considered as a first option of substitute care.
For more information and to read the full policy please see the documents in the 'Read more' section of this page.