Children's Services — the South, South West & East of England
REVIEWED BY: Sean McNamara on 2026-08-27
What children's services do
Every council across the South, South West and East of England (Bristol, Southampton, Portsmouth, Bournemouth, Exeter, Plymouth, Reading, Cambridge, Norwich, Ipswich, Chelmsford and the counties) has a children's services department: responding to concerns a child is at risk, assessing need, child protection enquiries, and bringing care proceedings where children cannot safely stay at home (a Cafcass Children's Guardian is then appointed for the child).
How to contact your council
1. Find your council: https://www.gov.uk/report-child-abuse — postcode lookup routes you to your council's children's services contact page 2. Immediate danger: 999 · non-emergency police: 101 3. Outside hours: every council runs an Emergency Duty Team (number on the council page) 4. Reports can be anonymous
Where a case is heard
Public-law (care) cases from these councils are heard at the region's family courts — Bristol Civil & Family Justice Centre, Southampton, Portsmouth, Oxford, Cambridge, Norwich, Ipswich, Chelmsford, Colchester and the county venues. See our court guides for practical details of each venue.
National organisations
- NSPCC helpline: 0808 800 5000 (Mon–Fri 10:00–16:00)
- Childline (for children): 0800 1111
How this fits your family court case
- In care proceedings, legal aid is automatic for parents — see our legal aid guide
- Private-law C100 disputes can sit alongside an open children's-services case
- Cafcass safeguarding checks include contacting your council's children's services
Official links
- Report a concern: https://www.gov.uk/report-child-abuse
- Find your local council: https://www.gov.uk/find-local-council
This page is general information, not legal advice. YourFamilyCase.co.uk is an independent information directory and is not affiliated with any local authority, HMCTS or gov.uk.
Content verified against the official HMCTS court directory, gov.uk forms and fees pages, and the professional body registers (SRA, FMC, Bar Council). Last reviewed September 2026.