A special guardianship order provides for a child to live with the person(s) named in the order. Anyone named in a special guardianship order has parental responsibility for the child. If anyone else already has parental responsibility he or she will not lose it; but the special guardian is entitled to exercise parental responsibility without having to consult with anyone else.
This means that if there are worries that parents might constantly be in dispute with a child’s carer, special guardianship can be a way of stopping that happening.
Special guardianship can be a good alternative to adoption, especially for older children who may still want to see their parents or keep in touch indirectly. Family members and foster carers may want to think about special guardianship as a way of looking after children long term.
