Family Solicitors

Cheshire West and Chester Council is currently consulting on its 0-19 Years Services and Children’s Centres.

There are currently 15 children’s centres that operate in groupings across the borough and the council says that it is committed to the continued delivery of services from all 15 centres.

The proposal is to formally group the 15 centres in line with Department for Education guidance, so that they are configured as eight main and seven linked sites within the existing groupings.

In addition to this proposal, there are three commissioning options that the council is asking local people to share their views on:

1. To continue to deliver a separate 0-5 years Healthy Child Programme, a separate 5-19 years Health and Wellbeing service and separate Children’s Centre services. Both the 0-5 years and 5-19 years services will be commissioned, while the Children’s Centres remain within the Local Authority.

2. To deliver an integrated 0-5 years service that includes the 0-5 years Healthy Child Programme and Children’s Centre services. The 5-19 years Health and Wellbeing service will continue to be delivered separately.

3. To deliver an integrated 0-19 years service that includes the 0-5 years Healthy Child Programme, 5-19 years Health and Wellbeing service and Children’s Centre services that is one service.

West Cheshire and Chester Council’s Cabinet Member Children and Families, Councillor Nicole Meardon, said:

“We are committed to the giving children and families in Cheshire West and Chester the best start in life – the views of our residents are really important in helping shape future services for 0-19 year olds and children’s centres.

“We’ve had an overwhelmingly positive response to the consultation so far – I want to encourage all who haven’t yet contributed to have your say on the options being considered. All responses will help to inform our decisions.

“Full details of the proposals are available on the Cheshire West and Chester Council website, search ‘0-19 consultation.”

The consultation is due to close on 26 June.

Duncan Lewis Family Solicitors

Duncan Lewis family solicitors can advise on a wide range of family and child care matters, including:

• Child abuse
• Child care arrangements
• Child maintenance
• Children taken into Local Authority care
• Civil Partnerships
• Court Orders
• Court of Protection
• Divorce
• Domestic violence & honour crimes
• Dowry disputes
• FGM
• Forced marriage
• International child abduction
• International marriage and divorce
• Islamic marriage and divorce
• Property disputes
• Separation agreements
• Spouse abandonment
• Wills and trusts.

There are Duncan Lewis offices nationwide and Duncan Lewis is a leading firm of Legal Aid solicitors.

For expert legal advice on family law and child care matters, call Duncan Lewis family solicitors on 0333 772 0409.