Public Law Outline Meetings (PLO Meetings) are also known as pre-proceedings. This is where the Local Authority and your Social Worker are so concerned about your child that they are considering making an application to court for orders to protect them.
You will be invited to a meeting with your social worker and a solicitor from the Local Authority. You will also be advised to bring your own solicitor to advise you.
The PLO process is a minimum of 12 weeks, and you will have at least 3 meetings. The first will be an initial meeting where you will discuss the concerns that the local authority have and together, create an action plan. The second will be a review of the progress you have made so far and the final will be the final decision of the Local Authority. This could be for you to remain on a child protection plan or for the Local Authority to make an application to the court for a protective order.
As part of the action plan, you will have a parenting assessment which will assess the parenting and care that you give your child. You will also be asked to identify alternative carers for your child, should the Local Authority apply for your child to be removed from your care. Anyone identified will be screened to see if they are fit to be considered as an alternative carer.
Why do I need a solicitor?
A solicitor will be familiar with the PLO process and the next steps if the Local Authority make an application to the court for protective orders. They will be able to advise you on what is discussed in the meetings in greater detail and what is expected of you to avoid going to court.
Sometimes, it can be scary going to a PLO meeting and you may feel that everyone is against you. A solicitor can represent your wishes and feelings and make you feel less criticised.
Do I still need to go to my Child Protection Conferences and Core groups?
Yes. The PLO process runs alongside your child protection plan, you will still need to attend those meetings.
If I do everything the Local Authority asks of me, will they end the process sooner?
No, the process is a minimum of 12 weeks and at the end, the Local Authority will seek legal advice to determine if they still need to go to court for protective orders or if you can remain on a child protection plan.
It is also important to note that concerns cannot be addressed in a short amount of time, and the Local Authority needs to be sure that the concerns won’t come back in the future. By maintaining the work over 12 weeks, you are showing a consistent change and giving the Local Authority the reassurance they need.
What will the Local Authority ask me to do as part of my action plan?
You will be asked to work with support agencies or professionals who can help to address the worries that the Local Authority has about your family. The Local Authority would ask for these people to provide information or updates. This information will then help the Local Authority decide the next steps.
Does this mean my child will be removed from my care?
Not necessarily, the PLO process is for you to address the concerns and avoid the Local Authority needing to apply for protective orders. If you do not reduce their concerns, the Local Authority may make an application for your child to be removed from your care. This is why it is important to seek advice from a Solicitor and ask them to attend the meeting with you.