Amend the Children Act to give siblings contact rights in care cases.

Background

Amend the Children Act 1989 to create a legal presumption that siblings maintain contact when a child enters care if safe and in the child's best interests. Require local authorities to identify siblings, including adults, and give written reasons if contact is refused.

Additional details

Children in care are often separated from their brothers and sisters, including adult siblings, despite these relationships providing stability, identity and emotional support. Current law does not adequately protect sibling relationships, leading to inconsistent decisions. We want the Children Act 1989 strengthened so local authorities must identify siblings, support contact where it is safe and in the child's best interests, and give written reasons when contact is refused or restricted.