Parenting Order

We believe that support for parents is best provided on a voluntary basis.  Many parents find looking after teenagers difficult and can feel that they have failed.  
Parenting support aims to help parents improve their relationships with their children and feel better about themselves and their situation.  
This can result in improved behaviour on the part of young people.  If a parent has refused to co-operate with parenting support, the court may consider making a Parenting Order.
A court may make an order on a parent or guardian of: 

• A juvenile (10 to 16 year old) who is convicted of an offence.
  
• A child of 10 and over who is made subject of an Anti-Social Behaviour Order or a Sex Offender Order, and 
  
• a child under 10 who is made subject to a Child Safety Order.    

You can find out more about these on the court orders page.
The court will also be able to impose this order when someone has been convicted of failing to ensure their child attends school regularly. 
Any parent or carer a young person lives with, this may include a stepparent, can be given an order. A parent, who is not living with the young person, but has regular contact, may be issued with an order separately. 
The parent/carer/guaridan issued with a Parenting Order may be required to attend counselling or guidance sessions were they will receive help on how to deal with the young person, for example:

• Parenting skills
• managing the young person's behaviour
• how to respond more effectively to challenging adolescent demands
• ensuring their child is home during set hours
• and ensuring they attend school regularly.  

How does the court decide to issue a Parenting Order? 
The court will ask for the family to have an assessment. This requires the court to collect information on the family's circumstances and the affect a Parenting Order may have. 
An assessment will involve talking to a Youth Offending Team Officer who will discuss problems and issues that may have contributed to the court appearance. They will consider whether they feel a Parenting Order would be suitable, or whether voluntary help would be acceptable. 

What if the parent/carer does not go to court?
A parent should attend court to support their child. It may give them the opportunity to express their views if asked by the court. 
A solicitor will give advice about being placed on a Parenting Order and any rights to appeal against it. 

What if a parent/guardian does not keep to the conditions of the order? 
If there are no genuine reasons, the parent/guardian will be in breach of the order. He/she will be given a written warnings, explaining the process. If the parent/guardian continues to miss appointments a review meeting will be held. Further failure to comply will result in he/she being taken back to court. 
If convicted parents/guardians could be liable for a fine up to £1000.

You may want to find out about support for families we offer.