Allegations Against Foster Carers & Adoptive Parents
If you’re facing allegations against you as a foster carer or adoptive parent, you’ll know how quickly things can move. Decisions about your family, where your children live, your placement status, your reputation, are made before you’ve had a proper chance to respond. We’re here to change that.
Contact Us
Talk to one of our team members on 0330 111 3131 or via our online enquiry form.
How we can help
Our criminal law team represents foster carers and adoptive parents across Manchester, Sale, Chester, and across the UK, who are facing allegations relating to the care of a child. Whether you are at the earliest stage of a police investigation or already dealing with multiple agencies, we can advise you on where you stand and what to do next.
What are allegations against foster carers?
An allegation against a foster carer is a formal concern raised, often by a child, another professional or an agency, that a foster carer has failed in their duty of care or caused harm to a child in their placement. These allegations trigger immediate safeguarding procedures, which can include suspension of your placement, involvement from your local authority and a referral to the police. We represent foster carers in Manchester, Sale and Chester facing allegations at every stage of this process, from the first point of contact through to conclusion.
What are allegations against adoptive parents?
An allegation against an adoptive parent is a safeguarding concern raised about the welfare of an adopted child, which may be made by the child themselves, a school, social worker or another agency. Because adopted children often carry complex trauma histories, these cases can be particularly difficult to navigate, and the authorities move quickly. We work with adoptive parents across the North West to ensure their account is properly presented and their rights protected from the outset.
Safeguarding allegations against me
A safeguarding allegation against a foster carer or adoptive parent is a formal concern raised about a child’s welfare that triggers immediate multi-agency action from social services, the police or both. If a safeguarding allegation has been made against you as a foster carer or adoptive parent, the process can feel completely out of your control, agencies act quickly and decisions are made without you. Understanding your rights from the outset is essential.
LADO procedures and strategy meetings
A LADO (Local Authority Designated Officer) procedure is the formal process triggered when an allegation is made against a person who works with children, including foster carers and adoptive parents. Once a LADO referral is made, strategy meetings, known as STRAT meetings, take place between the police, social services and other agencies. Critically, these meetings happen without you present. We can help you understand what is being discussed, ensure your position is communicated effectively and challenge any decisions that are made without proper consideration of your circumstances.
Police investigations and voluntary interviews
A police investigation into an allegation of child abuse or neglect can begin very quickly, sometimes before you have been given any clear information about what has been alleged. If you are asked to attend a voluntary interview or you are arrested, it is essential that you have specialist legal representation with you. Our team advises clients in Manchester, Sale, Chester, and across the UK, on how to approach police contact, what your rights are and how to present your account clearly and accurately.
Social services involvement and child removal
Social services have a legal duty to act swiftly when a safeguarding concern is raised, which can mean decisions about your children are made before you have had any meaningful opportunity to respond. This can include the removal of children from the home, suspension of foster placements or emergency protection orders. We work proactively alongside you to engage with social services, challenge decisions where appropriate and push for clear timelines so that your family is not left in prolonged uncertainty.
Support where multiple agencies are involved
Cases involving allegations against foster carers or adoptive parents frequently involve several agencies at once: the police, social services, the local authority and sometimes Ofsted or the fostering service itself. When multiple bodies are involved, miscommunication and delays are common, and it can feel as though nobody is taking responsibility for moving things forward. Our solicitors are experienced in managing multi-agency cases and will coordinate engagement across all relevant bodies to ensure your case progresses as efficiently as possible.
The process our criminal solicitors follow
- Contact us immediately
As soon as an allegation is made, or you suspect one is coming, get legal advice. The earlier we are involved, the more effectively we can shape what happens next.
- We assess your situation
We establish exactly where things stand: which agencies are involved, what stage the investigation is at, and whether any immediate decisions need to be challenged.
- We engage with the authorities on your behalf
We communicate directly with police and social services, ensuring your position is clearly presented before conclusions are drawn. STRAT meetings often happen fast, and we make sure your account is in the room even when you cannot be.
- We work toward resolution
Where the evidence supports it, many cases conclude without charge. We push for early closure where the evidence supports it, keeping delays to a minimum and your family’s situation front of mind throughout.
Why choose Slater Heelis for allegations against foster carers/adoptive parents
Award-winning criminal defence team
We won Criminal Law Team of the Year at the Manchester Legal Awards in 2022 and were finalists again in 2025. We’re also listed in The Times Best Law Firms for 2026. With over 1,400 reviews and an average rating of 4.9/5 on ReviewSolicitors, our clients trust us when it matters most.
Specialist experience in safeguarding allegations
Our solicitors have direct experience representing foster carers and adoptive parents facing safeguarding allegations across Greater Manchester and Cheshire. We understand LADO procedures, multi-agency investigations and the pressures these cases place on families. We recently represented an adoptive mother facing serious allegations made by her adopted daughter; through early intervention, the case concluded with no further action within weeks and her children were allowed to return home.
Straight-talking advice when things move fast
Safeguarding cases don’t wait, and neither do we. We’re based in Manchester, Sale and Chester, with solicitors available across the UK when you need them, whether that’s responding to an emergency placement suspension or preparing your account ahead of a police interview. We know the local authorities, the local processes and how these cases are handled across the North West.
Facing allegations as a foster carer or adoptive parent is serious, and the process moves quickly. Our solicitors are ready to step in, deal with the authorities on your behalf and work towards the best possible outcome for you and your family.
Call us on 0330 111 3131 or contact us via our online enquiry form to speak with our criminal law team.
Our offices in Manchester, Sale and Chester are open for face-to-face meetings. We’ll engage directly with police and social services, keep you informed at every stage and give you straightforward advice in plain English, so you always know exactly where you stand.
Get specialist legal advice today
