After you have applied for a Special Guardianship Order
If you have applied to be a special guardian, we'll send you an information pack. Then we'll need to assess how suited you would be to being a special guardian.
This assessment will be sent to the court. They cannot make a decision about whether to grant a Special Guardianship Order until they have received this.
What's in the assessment
The assessment looks at:
- information about the child
- information about you
- information about the child's family
- the child's wishes and feelings
- your ability to care for the child until they are 18
- the child's safety
- a medical report
- how the order would affect everyone involved
- recommendations for contact with the child's birth parent or parents
- references and DBS checks
- information about us
Special Guardian preparation training
It's important you have all the information you need to help you make the right decision for both you and the child.
During your assessment you will be invited to attend an introductory preparation day for becoming Special Guardians.
The session runs from 9:30 to 15:00 and lunch is provided.
We want you to leave feeling empowered and knowing where to go for support.
Our preparation day covers:
- an overview of Special Guardianship, including the assessment process and legal aspects
- advice on caring for somebody else's child, including child development, behaviour management and impact of trauma
- advice on managing contact
- an opportunity to meet others in the same situation and talk about sensitive issues
- where to go for further information and local services