Special Guardianship Policy and Procedure

Special Guardianship is a legal status introduced by the Adoption and Children Act 2002.

A Special Guardianship Order fits broadly between a Child Arrangements Order and an Adoption Order in terms of the carer taking responsibility for the child. Special Guardianship offers permanency for the child.

Special Guardianship offers greater security than long-term fostering as it lasts until the child reaches 18, but it does not require the legal severance from the birth family that is the result of an adoption order.

A Special Guardianship Order made in relation to a Looked After Child will replace the Care Order and the Local Authority will no longer have Parental Responsibility. A Care Order, however, will not automatically revoke a Special Guardianship Order although the Special Guardian’s exercise of Parental Responsibility will be restricted as the Local Authority will have primary responsibility for decision-making under the Care Order.

The amended Guidance 2016 highlights the responsibility on those assessing special guardians to consider the following:

• The capacity of the guardian to care for the child now and until the child is 18;
• The prospective special guardian’s understanding of the child’s current needs and likely future needs, particularly in light of any abuse or neglect the child has previously suffered, and their ability to meet those needs;
• The prospective special guardian’s understanding of any current or future risk posed by the child’s birth parents and their ability to manage this risk (should involve contact arrangements);
• An assessment of the strength of the previous and current relationship between the child and the prospective guardian this is very important since issues of concern can emerge when the prospective guardian has no or little pre-existing relationship with the child and the child is not already living with the prospective guardian;
• Parenting capacity of prospective guardian

The Adoption & Children Act 2002 provides the legal framework for Special Guardianship. Section 115 (1) of the 2002 Act inserts new Sections 14 A - F into the Children Act 1989. The new sections provide:

• Who may apply for a Special Guardianship Order;
• The circumstances in which a Special Guardianship Order may be made;
• The nature and effect of Special Guardianship orders;
• Support services for those affected by Special Guardianship.

A Special Guardianship Order is an order appointing a person or persons to be a child’s Special Guardian. Applications to become Special Guardians may be made by an individual or jointly by two or more people Joint applicants do not need to be married. Special Guardians must be aged 18 or over. The parents of a child may not become that child’s Special Guardian.

A Special Guardianship order gives the Special Guardian more responsibility than they would have if the child was subject to a Child Arrangements Order but less responsibility than an adoption order.

Child Arrangements Order

The holder of a Child Arrangements Order exercises parental responsibility jointly with other people who have parental responsibility (for example the birth parents). In a Child Arrangements Order, Parental Responsibility is extended to the holder of the order. On the making of a Child Arrangements Order a care order comes to an end and therefore the child ceases to be looked after.

In a Child Arrangements Order the child’s birth parents retain parental responsibility and they also retain the right to consent or not to adoption. The child’s birth parents can also apply through the courts for contact with the child or a variation of the Child Arrangements Order.

Child Arrangements Orders usually expire when the child reaches 16. However, in exceptional circumstances the Child Arrangements Order can continue until the child is 18 years old. The family may have regular and frequent contact with their child.

A Child Arrangements Order specifies where the child should live.

Financial Support is discretionary.

Special Guardianship Order

The Special Guardian will have clear responsibility for the day to day decisions about caring for the child or young person and his or her upbringing. In all cases where a Special Guardianship Order is made, the applicant acquires parental responsibility. Any child previously looked after will cease to be looked after on the making of this order. A Special Guardian may exercise PR to the exclusion of all others with parental responsibility apart from another Special Guardian. A Special Guardian can also appoint a guardian in the event of their death.

Special Guardians cannot change the child’s surname or move to live abroad for more than 3 months without the agreement of all others with parental responsibility or leave of the court. Special Guardians cannot consent to the adoption of the child.

Under a Special Guardianship order the child’s birth parents retain Parental Responsibility. Their exercise of this will be very limited because the Special Guardian will also have parental responsibility which they can exercise to the exclusion of the parental responsibility held by the birth parents. The Special Guardians would have to seek the agreement of the parents if they wished to change the child’s surname or live abroad for more than 3 months but they also have the option of applying to the court for permission if the parents do not consent. The parents also retain the right to consent or not to adoption and may apply through the courts for contact with the child or for a variation of the Special Guardianship order.

Special Guardianship orders last until the child is 18. The child’s needs at the time of the making of the order and in the future must be considered. For a child who is subject to a Special Guardianship order it is likely that there will be more face to face contact than where a child has been adopted. The child’s parents are able to apply for a contact order under Section 8 of the Children Act 1989.

There is no requirement that the child must live with the Special Guardians.

Special Guardianship support services must be in place.

Adoption

Where an adoption order is made, parental responsibility is given exclusively to the adopters and the adopters become responsible for maintaining the child.

Under an adoption order the child’s birth parents lose all parental responsibility. The adoptive parents are treated in law as if the child had been born to them.

Adoption orders last for life except in very exceptional circumstances.

The court must consider arrangements for contact before making an adoption order. The court has power to make a Contact Order under Section 8 of the Children Act 1989 but it is unusual for this to happen against the adopters wishes. More often arrangements for contact, whether direct or indirect, are made with the help of the agency before the adoption order is made.

Adoption Support Services must be in place.

Special Guardianship

For a child who is subject to a Special Guardianship order it is likely that there will be more face to face contact than where a child has been adopted. The child’s parents are able to apply to the court for a Contact Order under Section 8 of the Children Act 1989, or for a variation of the Special Guardianship Order.

Post Special Guardianship Order Contact

Any proposals regarding contact arrangements should be discussed initially with the Fostering and Adoption Service prior to the social worker writing the report. The Fostering and Adoption Service will offer post order support services to the Special Guardian and needs to be consulted as early as possible regarding any proposed contact arrangements.

Recommending a Special Guardianship Order: the Child’s Best Interests

Decisions regarding the recommendation for Special Guardianship must be viewed in the light of the Welfare Checklist at Section 1 of the Children Act 1989, so when determining any question with respect to the upbringing of a child under the provisions of Special Guardianship, the child's welfare shall be the paramount consideration. It is expected that the option of Special Guardianship will be discussed at all statutory child care reviews with the same thoroughness as all permanency planning for children.

In determining whether a Special Guardianship Order is in the child’s best interests, the following issues must always be considered:

• The views and wishes of the child, whether they fully understand the nature of a Special Guardianship order and why this may be the preferred permanency option for them;
• The views and wishes of the carers and their suitability, including whether they fully understand their roles as Special Guardians. As the child will cease to be looked after as a result of the order being made, how they view taking responsibility for making decisions about the child’s upbringing without the involvement of the local authority;
• The suitability of plans for future contact between the child and their birth parents and others who are important to the child. It should be noted that in reporting to the court the local authority is required to recommend appropriate contact arrangements in all cases.

Any decision about recommending Special Guardianship must be discussed fully with the Team Manager supervising the social worker who reports to the court and their service manager.

For additional guidance to reflect and consider what should be thought about when exploring the appropriateness of an SGO access Appendix 3: Special Guardianship Orders Practice Guidance.

Children who are not Looked After

Where the child is not Looked After, the Local Authority has the same responsibility for reporting to the court and carefully assessing the recommendations. As for a looked after child, every effort will be made to consider fully with the prospective applicants and the child the reasons for making an application, whether it is advisable to do so, and what the other options might be. The prospective applicants must be advised of the role of the local authority in reporting and making recommendations to the court, including their duty to consider and report on what other options the court may wish to consider.

The allocation of the case will need to take into account the circumstances of the case, whether there is a social worker already involved, and the expectation of the statutory guidance that the social worker should be suitably qualified and experienced. Where this cannot be achieved, social workers who do not have suitable experience will be supervised by someone who has.

Where a full assessment is undertaken, it is to be expected that this will usually require a 3-month time scale.

Assessments should be robust, evidence-based and child-focussed.

The assessment should carefully balance the strengths families may have: consider any existing relationships they have with the child; explore their parenting experience; the significance for the child of remaining within their family and network, against the carers' capacity to meet the assessed needs and the challenges that a particular child may bring on a long-term basis, (including any additional needs as a result of significant harm or neglect they may have experienced), and until their 18th birthday.

In recognising that each situation will be looked at on a case-by-case basis, an interim placement with the proposed special guardians may be appropriately considered to both establish relationships between the child and special guardians and confirm the applicants’ ability to carry out their parenting responsibilities, meet the needs of the child and promote their welfare and best interests.

The assessment for Special Guardianship support services should be based on the Assessment Framework and include the following:

• The developmental needs of the child;
• The parenting capacity of the Special Guardian or prospective Special Guardian;
• Family and environmental factors for the child;
• Comment on how life with the Special Guardian might be for the child;
• Any previous assessment of the child or Special Guardian that is relevant;
• The needs of the Special Guardian or prospective Special Guardian and their family;
• The impact of the Special Guardianship Order on the relationship between the child, parent and Special Guardian.
• Police Checks/DBS check MUST be undertaken;
• References must be sought and the worker must meet with both referees.

At the end of the assessment and once the necessary approval has been obtained, the social worker must notify the person requesting provision of its outcome, including:

• Information about the outcome of the assessment and the reasons for it;
• Where it refers to financial support, the basis on which this was determined;
• The services, if any, that the Local Authority proposes to provide;
• If financial support is to be paid, the amount and any conditions attached.

If support services are to be offered a draft support plan must accompany this Notice and an opportunity to make representations must be given.

Approval of Special Guardianship Assessments and Support Plans:

• The Special Guardianship Assessment must be authorised by the relevant Service Manager and Head of Service. This process will ensure robust consideration as to whether this is the best plan to meet child’s long term needs, especially when considering a baby/young child;
• The Special Guardianship Support Plan must be agreed by the relevant Service Manager;
• If the finance package being requested exceeds the amount identified through the means tested assessment, authorisation must be sought and given by the relevant Head of Service and Director for Children’s Services before it can be included in any care plan submitted to the Court. This also applies for any proposed SGO support packages which may result increased costs or commitments for the Local Authority.

General

Where it is intended that a looked after child will become subject to a Special Guardianship Order, those who must receive an assessment for Special Guardianship support services at their request include:

• The child;
• The Special Guardian or prospective Special Guardian;
• The child’s parent.

Purpose of Special Guardianship Support

The purpose of Special Guardianship support services is to ensure the continuance of the relationship between the child and his Special Guardian or the prospective Special Guardian.

The child’s parents are likely to remain involved where a Special Guardianship Order has been made, so it will be important to assess the likely impact of the Special Guardianship Order on the relationship between the parent, the child and the Special Guardian. This may well be more of an issue in the case of Special Guardianship than in adoption cases, because it is more likely that the child will have a continuing relationship with their parent(s).

It is important to emphasise that Special Guardianship support services should not be seen in isolation from mainstream services.

The Special Guardianship Support Plan

Where an assessment identifies the need for ongoing services a Special Guardianship Support Plan must be completed.

Other agencies, such as Education and Health, may need to be consulted about the contents of the Plan.

The Plan should set out:

1. The services to be provided;
2. The objectives and criteria for success;
3. Timescales for provision;
4. Procedures for review;
5. A named person to monitor the provision of services in accordance with the Plan.

Following assessment, the provision of Special Guardianship Support will be subject to the approval of the relevant fieldwork Service Manager.

Once the necessary approval has been obtained, the social worker must send the proposed plan to the person requesting support and allow 28 days for that person to make representations about the proposed plan. The social worker should also give information to the person concerned about who to contact to obtain independent advice and advocacy.

Where representations are received they should be referred to the relevant fieldwork Service Manager to decide whether to amend or confirm the Plan. The allocated social worker must then write to the person concerned setting out the final Plan.

Review of Special Guardianship Support Plans

The Regulations provide that Plans must be reviewed taking into account the following:

• Any change of circumstances affecting the support;
• At whichever stage of implementation of the Plan is considered appropriate;
• In any event, at least annually.

The reviews may be a paper exercise where there is no change or a minor change in circumstances. However, if there is a substantial change of circumstances e.g. a serious change in the behaviour of the child, it would normally be necessary to conduct a new assessment of needs.

Any change to the Support Plan will be subject to the approval of the relevant fieldwork Service Manager. Local arrangements will determine whether any additional approval is required for changes to financial support.

If the Local Authority decides to vary or terminate the provision of support after the review Notice in writing must be given and the person concerned should be given 28 days to make representations.

Urgent Cases

Where a person has an urgent need for a service the assessment process should not delay provision and arrangements can be made for support to be provided as a matter of urgency in appropriate cases. The approval of the relevant fieldwork Service Manager will still be required. The Local Authority will need to review the provision as soon as possible after the support has been provided in accordance with the procedures set out above.

A child who was looked after immediately before the making of a Special Guardianship Order, and who was then between the ages of 16-21, is eligible for leaving care support. Other children who are under the age of 16 at the time the order is made are not eligible. This needs to be taken into account when an application for Special Guardianship is being considered.

The regulations state that financial support should be provided where this is necessary to ensure that the arrangements for a Special Guardianship Order can be secured. Financial support should not be the sole reason for a Special Guardianship arrangement failing to survive. This applies to both looked and non-looked after children.

Eligibility for the payment of regular allowances will be based upon a means test and assessed in accordance with the regulations and guidance. It is important for contact to be made with the Children’s Service Department’s Finance Section who will undertake the Special Guardianship Financial Assessment.

When a carer’s means are assessed for the purposes of Special Guardianship financial support welfare benefits are taken into account.

Under Regulation 13(2) of the Special Guardianship Regulations 2005 any other grant, benefit, allowance or resource which is available to the carer in respect of his needs as a result of becoming a Special Guardian must be taken into account. Financial resources would include any tax credit or benefit.

Unlike Foster Carers, Special Guardians are entitled to receive child benefit whilst the child is living with them.

In determining the level of a Special Guardianship allowance the Local Authority must have regard to the amount of Fostering Allowance which would be payable if the child were fostered. Nottingham City Council has taken its core Fostering Allowance rates payable as its starting point for calculating the level of Special Guardianship Order allowances.

In calculating the level of Special Guardianship Allowance payable, that element of the equivalent Fostering Allowance specific to the roles and particular skills of mainstream foster carers for which they receive additional remuneration is disregarded. This is because these elements of Nottingham City Council’s Fostering Allowances are not relevant to Special Guardians. Special Guardianship Order Allowances are specifically aligned to the element of the Fostering Allowance that reflects the core cost of caring for the child and are means tested.

Under the Regulations, a former Local Authority Foster Carer who becomes a Special Guardian for the child in his or her care may continue to be paid the remuneration element of the previous Fostering Allowance for up to 2 years (or a longer period in exceptional circumstances) to allow for an adjustment to their new financial circumstances.

The provision of an allowance agreed before the Special Guardianship Order remains the responsibility of the authority who originally agreed it, regardless of where the family live. The requirement for carers to complete and supply the local authority with an annual statement as to their financial circumstances, the financial needs and resources of the child, their address and whether the child still has a home with him will apply in all cases.

In exceptional cases payments may be made where the child needs special care as a result of long term and serious illness, disability, or severe emotional and behavioural difficulties. It must be demonstrated that the actual costs of providing the special care are above those applicable to a child who does not suffer from the condition. Examples are the need for special diets, clothing or bedding. Eligibility for such payments must be assessed in relation to any entitlement to benefits, such as Disabled Living Allowance. Any payment agreed may be paid as an enhancement to a regular allowance.

Assistance may also be provided with legal costs, both at the time of the application and subsequently, particularly if the application is contested. Assistance may be given where this is deemed necessary for the order to be made or to continue, where the application or the continuation of the order is assessed by the local authority as being in the child’s best interests. Means will be disregarded, cases will be assessed individually and agreement for payment must be supported by the relevant fieldwork Service Manager.

Assistance may also be provided with travelling expenses to facilitate contact between the child and their relatives or others with whom the child is considered by the local authority to have a beneficial relationship. Cases will be assessed individually and agreement for payment must be supported by the relevant fieldwork Service Manager.

Looked After Children

For Looked After children, as for adoption support services, the local authority who last looked after them retains responsibility for the assessment and provision of Special Guardianship support services for three years from the date of the making of the order. It also retains responsibility indefinitely for regular financial support agreed before the making of the Special Guardianship Order. In all other situations, including where the initial three year period has expired, responsibility for assessing and providing support services is with the local authority where the Special Guardian lives.

• 115(1) Adoption and Children Act 2002;
• Section 14 A-F and Section 24(1)(A) Children Act 1989 and Guidance;
• Special Guardianship Regulations 2005;
• Special Guardianship (Amendment) Regulations 2016;
• B v London Borough of Lewisham (2008) EWHC 738 (Admin);
• B v Kirklees MBC (2010) EWHC 467 (Admin).

Statutory guidance for local authorities on the Special Guardianship Regulations 2005 (as amended by the Special Guardianship (Amendment) Regulations 2016)

The amended regulations 2016 highlight the need to:

• Strengthen the assessment process, to ensure that assessments are more robust and more consistent for all children, and that they are based on the fundamental principle that the person being assessed is capable of caring for the child for the whole of that child’s life to adulthood.

With respect to the child:

• Any harm which the child has suffered; and
• Any risk of future harm to the child posed by the child’s parents, relatives or any other person the local authority consider relevant.

With respect to any prospective Special Guardians, the additional items to be considered in the assessment are:

• An assessment of the nature of the prospective special guardian’s current and past relationship with the child; and
• An assessment of the prospective special guardian’s parenting capacity, including:
  • Their understanding of, and ability to meet the child’s current and likely future needs, particularly, any needs the child may have arising from harm that the child has suffered;
  • Their understanding of, and ability to protect the child from any current or future risk of harm posed by the child’s parents, relatives or any other person the local authority consider relevant, particularly in relation to contact between any such person and the child;
  • Their ability and suitability to bring up the child until the child reaches the age of eighteen.
• Consider what support should be available to children living under special guardianship arrangements.

Regulation 21: Matters to be Dealt With in the Report for the Court

The following matters are prescribed for the purposes of Section 14A (8) (b) of the Act.

1. In respect of the child:
   1. Name, sex, date and place of birth and address including local authority area;
   2. A photograph and physical description;
   3. Nationality (and immigration status where appropriate);
   4. Racial origin and cultural and linguistic background;
   5. Religious persuasion (including details of baptism, confirmation or equivalent ceremonies);
   6. Details of any siblings including their dates of birth;
   7. The extent of the child's contact with his relatives and any other person the local authority consider relevant:
      183. Any harm the child has suffered;
      184. Any risk of future harm to the child posed by the child’s parents. Any risk of future harm to the child posed by the child’s parents, relatives or any other person the Local Authority considers relevant.
   8. Whether the child is or has been looked after by a local authority or is or has been provided with accommodation by a voluntary organisation and details (including dates) of placements by the authority or organisation;
   9. Whether the prospective Special Guardian is a local authority foster parent of the child;
   10. A description of the child's personality, his social development and his emotional and behavioural development and any related current or likely future needs;
   11. Details of the child's interests, likes and dislikes;
   12. A health history and a description of the state of the child's health which shall include any treatment the child is receiving;
   13. Names, addresses and types of nurseries or schools attended with dates;
   14. The child's educational attainments;
   15. Whether the child is subject to an Education, Health and Care Plan needs under the Education Act 1996(5); and
   16. Details of any order made by a court with respect to the child under the Act including:
       1. The name of the court;
       2. The order made; and
       3. The date on which the order was made.
2. In respect of the child's family:
   1. Name, date and place of birth and address (and the date on which their last address was confirmed) including local authority area of each parent of the child and his siblings under the age of 18;
   2. A photograph, if available, and physical description of each parent;
   3. Nationality (and immigration status where appropriate) of each parent;
   4. Racial origin and cultural and linguistic background of each parent;
   5. Whether the child's parents were married to each other at the time of the child's birth or have subsequently married and whether they are divorced or separated;
   6. Where the child's parents have been previously married or formed a civil partnership, the date of the marriage or civil partnership;
   7. Where the child's parents are not married, whether the father has parental responsibility and, if so, how it was acquired;
   8. If the identity or whereabouts of the father are not known, the information about him that has been ascertained and from whom, and the steps that have been taken to establish paternity;
   9. The past and present relationship of the child's parents;
   10. Where available, the following information in respect of each parent:
       1. Health history, including details of any serious physical or mental illness, any hereditary disease or disorder or disability;
       2. Religious persuasion;
       3. Educational history;
       4. Employment history;
       5. Personality and interests;
   11. In respect of the child's siblings under the age of 18
       1. The person with whom the sibling is living;
       2. Whether the sibling is looked after by a local authority or provided with accommodation by a voluntary organisation; and
       3. Details of any court order made with respect to the sibling under the Act, including the name of the court, the order made and the date on which the order was made.
3. In respect of the wishes and feelings of the child and others:
   1. An assessment of the child's wishes and feelings (considered in light of his age and understanding) regarding:
      1. Special Guardianship;
      2. This religious and cultural upbringing; and
      3. Contact with his relatives and any other person the local authority consider relevant;
      4. And the date on which the child's wishes and feelings were last ascertained.
   2. The wishes and feelings of each parent regarding:
      1. Special Guardianship;
      2. The child's religious and cultural upbringing; and
      3. Contact with the child;
      4. And the date on which the wishes and feelings of each parent were last ascertained; and
   3. The wishes and feelings of any of the child's relatives, or any other person the local authority consider relevant regarding the child and the dates on which those wishes and feelings were last ascertained.
4. In respect of the prospective Special Guardian or, where two or more persons are jointly prospective Special Guardians, each of them:
   1. Name, date and place of birth and address including local authority area;
   2. A photograph and physical description;
   3. Nationality (and immigration status where appropriate);
   4. Racial origin and cultural and linguistic background;
   5. If the prospective Special Guardian is:
      1. Married, the date and place of marriage;
      2. Has formed a civil partnership, the date and place of registration of the civil partnership; or
      3. Has a partner, details of that relationship.
   6. Details of any previous marriage, civil partnership, or relationship;
   7. Where the prospective Special Guardians wish to apply jointly, the nature of their relationship and an assessment of the stability of that relationship;
   8. If the prospective Special Guardian is a member of a couple and is applying alone for a Special Guardianship order, the reasons for this;
   9. Whether the prospective Special Guardian is a relative of the child;
   10. An assessment of the prospective Special Guardian's current and past relationship with the child. This should include the level of contact with the child and comment on the quality of the contact and nature of the attachment;
   11. A health history of the prospective Special Guardian including details of any serious physical or mental illness, any hereditary disease or disorder or disability;
   12. A description of how the prospective Special Guardian relates to adults and children;
   13. Previous experience of caring for children;
   14. An assessment of the prospective Special Guardian's parenting capacity including:
       1. Their understanding of, and ability to meet the child’s current and likely future needs, particularly, any needs the child may have arising from harm that the child has suffered;
       2. Their understanding of, and ability to protect the child from any current or future risk of harm posed by the child’s parents, relatives or any other person the local authority consider relevant, particularly in relation to contact between any such person and the child;
       3. Their ability and suitability to bring up the child until the child reaches the age of eighteen.
   15. Where there have been any past assessments as a prospective adopter, foster parent or Special Guardian, relevant details as appropriate;
   16. Details of income and expenditure;
   17. Information about the prospective Special Guardian's home and the neighbourhood in which he lives;
   18. Details of other members of the household and details of any children of the prospective Special Guardian even if not resident in the household;
   19. Details of the parents and any siblings of the prospective special guardian, with their ages or ages at death;
   20. The following information:
       1. Religious persuasion;
       2. Educational history;
       3. Employment history; and
       4. Personality and interests.
   21. Details of any previous family court proceedings in which the prospective Special Guardian has been involved (which have not been referred to elsewhere in this report);
   22. A report of each of the interviews with the three persons nominated by the prospective Special Guardian to provide personal references for him;
   23. Whether the prospective Special Guardian is willing to follow any wishes of the child or his parents in respect of the child's religious and cultural upbringing;
   24. The views of other members of the prospective Special Guardian's household and wider family in relation to the proposed special guardianship order;
   25. An assessment of the child's current and future relationship with the family of the prospective Special Guardian;
   26. Reasons for applying for a Special Guardianship order and extent of understanding of the nature and effect of Special Guardianship and whether the prospective Special Guardian has discussed special guardianship with the child;
       677. Any hopes and expectations the prospective Special Guardian has for the child's future; and
       678. The prospective Special Guardian's wishes and feelings in relation to contact between the child and his relatives or any other person the local authority considers relevant;
       679. DBS/Police checks must be carried out on all adults over 16 in the Household.
5. In respect of the local authority which completed the report:
   1. Name and address;
   2. Details of any past involvement of the local authority with the prospective Special Guardian, including any past preparation for that person to be a local authority foster parent or adoptive parent or Special Guardian;
   3. Where Section 14A(7)(a) of the Act applies and the prospective Special Guardian lives in the area of another local authority, details of the local authority's enquiries of that other local authority about the prospective Special Guardian;
   4. A summary of any Special Guardianship support services provided by the authority for the prospective Special Guardian, the child or the child's parent and the period for which those services are to be provided; and
   5. Where the local authority has decided not to provide special guardianship support services, the reasons why.
6. A summary prepared by the medical professional who provided the information referred to in paragraphs 1(l) and 4(k);
7. The implications of the making of a Special Guardianship order for:
   1. The child;
   2. The child's parent;
   3. The prospective Special Guardian and his family; and
   4. Any other person the local authority considers relevant.
8. The relative merits of Special Guardianship and other orders which may be made under the Act or the Adoption and Children Act 2002 with an assessment of whether the child's long term interests would be best met by a Special Guardianship order;
9. A recommendation as to whether or not the Special Guardianship order sought should be made in respect of the child and, if not, any alternative proposal in respect of the child. A recommendation as to what arrangements there should be for contact between the child and his relatives or any person the local authority consider relevant.

Click here to view Special Guardianship Orders Practice Guidance.