We help people obtain the support they are entitled to from local authorities, and challenge local authority decisions that are unlawful. We have significant experience of securing support for adults with care needs, families without recourse to public funds, age-disputed children and care leavers.
Support for children and families. We can advise you if a local authority has refused to provide accommodation or financial support to your family, including where you have no recourse to public funds. We can advise on the duties local authorities owe to children in need and to young people leaving care, and act quickly where a family is facing homelessness or destitution.
Age-disputed young people. We can advise you if your age has been disputed, including challenges to age assessments carried out by local authorities or the National Age Assessment Board. Our team has acted in leading cases in this area before the Upper Tribunal.
Adults with care needs. We can advise on community care assessments and care packages, and challenge decisions that leave people without the care and support the law requires.
How we challenge decisions. Depending on the case, we use complaints procedures, pre-action correspondence and, where necessary, judicial review. Where a local authority has abused its powers or breached your rights, we can also advise on claims for compensation.
We hold Legal Aid Agency contracts in Public Law and Community Care, so free legal aid may be available to you if you are on a low income. If you are not eligible for legal aid we offer competitive private rates.