Parenting Orders
A Parenting Order is a Court Order, which is made to help support and encourage parents to take control of their children to prevent them offending. It can last up to one year. The Order consists of two elements:
- The first consists of a requirement on parents to attend counselling or guidance sessions, no more than once a week for up to three months.
- The second requires the parent to exercise control over their child’s behaviour, e.g. ensuring that their child gets to School or is home by a certain time.
What does it mean?
It means that you will be given:
- Help and support to deal more effectively with your child’s behaviour to prevent them offending
- Advice in areas in which you may be having difficulty
- Support from the Youth Offending Service
- A Plan will be drawn up with you, which will detail how the requirements of the Order will be met.
What part do I play in the Order?
Under a Parenting Order you will have to:
- Ensure that you comply with the requirements of the Order
- Carry out any other things you have agreed to do with the Parent Support Worker.
Right to appeal
You have the right to appeal against the Order in either the Divisional Court of the Queens’ Bench Division, Crown Court or Court of Appeal depending on where the Order was imposed.
What else can I be asked to do?
If this Order was imposed alongside another Order of a supervisory nature upon your child, you may be required to take part in progress meetings or reviews and will be fully included in plans for your child.
What can go wrong?
If you do not co-operate with the requirements of the Order you may be taken back to Court where the Court may:
- Impose a fine of up to £1,000
- Impose a prison sentence for a period of six months
- Impose another Parenting Order
Parenting support services available:
Helpful interactive website www.parentlineplus.org.uk (external link)