This guide is designed to give comprehensive advice on the preparation and writing of social work court reports in a range of different Scottish child care cases. It covers a variety of topics that need to be considered, including types of courts and cases; sources of information; parental responsibilities and rights; disclosure issues; content and layout of reports; and legal requirements.

The guide also includes the relevant court rules and other provisions.

It will be invaluable for all those involved in writing court reports, including complex adoption reports, reports for courts in England, Wales and Northern Ireland in cross-border placements, and private law “Mat Pro” reports.

Who is this book for?

This guide is ideal for all those involved in writing court reports in Scotland.

What you will find in this book

This book includes information on the following cases:

• Permanence orders and permanence orders with authority for adoption
• Domestic agency adoptions
• Domestic non-agency adoptions
• Foreign adoption applications for section 59 orders and Convention adoption orders
• Agency adoptions where Scottish children are placed in England, Wales and Northern Ireland
• Private law applications

Alexandra Plumtree:
Alexandra Plumtree has been a solicitor in Scotland for more than 30 years and previously worked as the legal consultant for BAAF Scotland. She has worked in private practice and as a children’s reporter, and has extensive experience of public and private law for children and families in Scotland.