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Kamena Dorling, head of policy and public affairs at Coram Children's Legal Centre, examines reports of a continuing lack of support from councils in relation to Special Guardianship Orders

Serious case review highlights need for rigorous assessments when placing a child with a special guardian, writes Kamena Dorling, head of policy & programmes at Coram Children's Legal Centre

Adult Guardianship Act in its provision of guardianship for adults with disabilities; to identify and make recommendations concerning any need for amendment to, or reform of, the Act and other related legislation; and to identify and make recommendations concerning the need for any changes to the administration and provision of services under the Act. ; Y

The Court of Appeal highlights the importance of substantive and procedural protections in special guardianship order cases

Kirsten Anderson, research and policy manager at Coram Children's Legal Centre, examines a government consultation that will review the use of special guardianship, first introduced in 2005

In his status as a minor, the child is deprived of self-determination & self-manag. The guardian, whether parent, adoptive parent, or judicially appointed person, represents the child's rights & interests in a personal relationship with the child. Studies show, however, that this protective law is almost completely neglected in the actual practice of courts & community soc agencies serving children, despite mounting evidence of the effect of improper guardianship in child neglect, abuse, exploitation, nonsupport, running away, falling into trouble with the law, & so on. The US Children's Bur has made a start toward corrective legislation & practices by suggesting principles & language for legislation which defines & distinguishes key terms at law & clarifies authority & professional relationships with children. AA.

Basic guarantees of American law for protection of the person against unauthorized control by others, respect for the dignity and rights of the individual, and effective par ticipation in community life are safeguarded for the child by a special protective status and protective relationship. In his status as a minor, the child is deprived of self-determination and self-management. The guardian, whether parent, adoptive parent, or judicially appointed person, represents the child's rights and interests in a personal relationship with the child. Studies show, however, that this protective law is almost com pletely neglected in the actual practice of courts and community social agencies serving children, despite mounting evidence of the effect of improper guardianship in child neglect, abuse, exploitation, nonsupport, running away, falling into trouble with the law, and so on. The United States Children's Bureau has made a start toward corrective legislation and practices by suggesting principles and language for legislation which defines and distinguishes key terms at law and clarifies authority and professional relationships with children.

During the decade following 1978, six statewide initiatives addressed the need for reform in the Virginia guardianship system. In 1988, the General Assembly established a joint subcommittee to evaluate the status of guardianship in the Commonwealth and to make recommendations to enhance the existing program to ensure the protection of citizens who entrust their lives and property to the guardianship system. Additionally, prompted by the urgent need for a public response to the shortage of available guardians, the General Assembly directed the Department of Social Services to examine the possibility of reserving public guardianship for use only as a last resort. In January of 1990, the Department presented the results of that study and proposals for an appropriate legislative response to the Governor and the General Assembly in Senate Document Number Twenty-three, Public Guardianship: Program Design Options for Virginia. However, the 1990 Session of the General Assembly took no action on the proposals.