To become a Special Guardian, you must be over 18 years of age and must not be the parent of the child. In order to make the application, you must give the Council three month’s notice in writing to inform them of your intentions to apply for an SGO.
The Recruitment and Assessment Team will then produce a report which will include information about the child and the child’s wishes, information about the birth family, information about contact arrangements, information about the prospective Special Guardian’s and the Council’s recommendation on whether a SGO should be made.
It is the responsibility of the Council to ensure that the report is completed on time and prepared by a qualified social worker. This report is then presented at court for the SGO to be made.