https://www.slab.org.uk/guidance/applying-for-advice-and-assistance-choosing-the-correct-category-code-and-advice-and-assistance-applications-on-behalf-of-or-directly-by-a-child/
https://www.slab.org.uk/guidance/applying-for-advice-and-assistance-choosing-the-correct-category-code-and-advice-and-assistance-applications-on-behalf-of-or-directly-by-a-child/
All advice and assistance applications must be submitted on line within 14 days of beginning the advice and assistance.
If you do not apply in time, your account may be ineligible for payment.
You can grant advice and assistance to advise the child about:
You must answer all mandatory questions and if you do not you will not be able to submit the application. Mandatory fields completed with for example ‘not applicable’ or ‘not known’ will be subject to further checking by us which could lead to delays in the processing of the application.
It is important you select the correct category code as selecting an incorrect category code can delay payment when your account is submitted.
The CHSA code covers work under the Children’s Hearings (Scotland) Act 2011, which deals with the Children’s Hearings System including:
The CHSA code does not cover voluntary social work involvement, which falls under S25 of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995.
This CHSA code should be used where the matter concerns a referral to the children’s Reporter or where there is a realistic expectation that a Child Protection Order (CPO) will be sought imminently which will result in the Reporter’s involvement and the Children’s Hearing System.
If, your client wants to withdraw their voluntary consent to their child residing outwith their care and the SWD have advised that they will seek a CPO if this happens, then the CHSA category code should be used.
The ACR code covers work under Part 4 of the Age of Criminal Responsibility (Scotland) Act 2019.
The OTH code covers work under all the other Parts (excluding Part 4) of the Age of Criminal Responsibility (Scotland) Act 2019.
The FAM code covers civil family issues where there is no other obvious code available. It should be used where there is:
As an example, if you are giving advice to your client on the rights and obligations of the SWD where this involves their child who is residing in voluntary care then this FAM category code should be used.
The civil category codes of CNT and RES covers CONTACT and RESIDENCE. They attract templated increases and cannot be used for any matter that has been referred to a children’s Reporter, even where contact of a child is at issue.
These civil category codes cover private civil proceedings for S11 Orders under Part I of the Children’s Hearings (Scotland) Act 1995. If you use these category codes incorrectly you will not be paid for work carried out even where a template increase has been granted.
| Type of A&A work | Cat code to use | More information |
|---|---|---|
| Social work department seeks a Child Protection Order | CHSA | The CHSA code covers work under the Children’s Hearings (Scotland) Act 2011, which deals with the Children’s Hearings System |
| A child is referred to the Reporter | ||
| For all subsequent proceedings before a children’s hearings and related court proceedings | ||
| Social work involvement on a voluntary basis | FAM | The FAM code covers civil family issues where there is no other obvious code available |
| No referral to the Reporter and/or no Compulsory Supervision Order in place for the child | ||
| No realistic prospect of any CPO being sought by the SWD. | ||
| ‘Fresh evidence’ proof, where previous grounds established under the 1995 Act require challenge | CHC | CHC code covered the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 Part II Chapters 2 and 3 only. No sections have any application now except ‘fresh evidence’ proofs. |
| Contact | CNT | Cannot be used for any matter that has been referred to a children’s Reporter even where contact/residence of a child is at issue. |
| Residence | RES |
When your client is a child the application may be made on their behalf by:
It is the right of a child to apply on their own behalf or to authorise some other person to apply on their behalf.
Their right to apply for advice and assistance may arise by virtue of the Age of Legal Capacity (Scotland) Act 1991 (the 1991 Act), and the presumption contained in it, or otherwise.
If a child consults you on a children’s matter you must form a view of the child’s general understanding of what it means to instruct you.
Where applicable, we are entitled to assume that you have satisfied yourself that the child has a general understanding of what it means to instruct you. We will register the application in the name of the child.
If you notify us of an advice and assistance grant made and signed by a child aged under 12, you will be asked if you are satisfied that they have a general understanding of what it means to instruct you. If you are not satisfied you will not be permitted to proceed. If you are we may query this with you at a later stage and ask you to provide further information in this respect.
Unless you are acting in a representative capacity, a very young child or baby cannot give direct instructions to you.
When you see clients face to face they must sign the declaration. If the client is present and cannot sign then you need to provide an explanation when you submit your application via Legal Aid Online.
If you are not meeting your client in person then you must explain the terms of the declaration to them and obtain their verbal consent to its terms. You may then select the ‘client not present and agrees with the declaration terms’ option within Legal Aid Online.
See our guidance on solicitor and applicant signatures.
Advice and Assistance Application Procedures
Find out when you need a fresh grant of A&A for your client and how far you can act under one grant throughout the children’s hearing process.
Advice and Assistance Application Procedures
This page includes information on the limit of authorised expenditure in A&A. It covers what the limit is, how you can apply for an increase, our process for reconsidering a rejected request for an increase, urgent telephone requests for increases and the availability of retrospective increases.
Advice and Assistance Application Procedures
Find out about the likelihood and implications of your client being subject to property recovered or preserved (clawback) provisions under Children’s A&A.