If a child cannot live with his or her parents, but adoption is not seen as a solution, there are other possibilities. This may be the case particularly when children are older and may want to still see their parents, even if they cannot live with them.
A residence order under the Children Act 1989 would mean that the child would live with the person(s) named in the order. Anyone named in a residence order has parental responsibility for the child as long as the residence order lasts. That parental responsibility is shared with anyone else who has parental responsibility (usually the child’s parents) and decisions may have to involve everyone with parental responsibility (depending on the type of decision). This can be a way of family members caring for a child who cannot live with his or her parents.
If you want to discuss this further please contact Nicola Harmon
