Children Act 1989, section 14D

Special guardianship orders: variation and discharge

Part II Orders With Respect To Children In Family Proceedings

(1)The court may vary or discharge a special guardianship order on the application of—

(a)the special guardian (or any of them, if there are more than one);

(b)any parent or guardian of the child concerned;

(c)any individual [F223 who is named in a child arrangements order as a person with whom the child is to live;F223]

(d)any individual not falling within any of paragraphs (a) to (c) who has, or immediately before the making of the special guardianship order had, parental responsibility for the child;

(e)the child himself; or

(f)a local authority designated in a care order with respect to the child.

(2)In any family proceedings in which a question arises with respect to the welfare of a child with respect to whom a special guardianship order is in force, the court may also vary or discharge the special guardianship order if it considers that the order should be varied or discharged, even though no application has been made under subsection (1).

(3)The following must obtain the leave of the court before making an application under subsection (1)—

(a)the child;

(b)any parent or guardian of his;

(c)any step-parent of his who has acquired, and has not lost, parental responsibility for him by virtue of section 4A;

(d)any individual falling within subsection (1)(d) who immediately before the making of the special guardianship order had, but no longer has, parental responsibility for him.

(4)Where the person applying for leave to make an application under subsection (1) is the child, the court may only grant leave if it is satisfied that he has sufficient understanding to make the proposed application under subsection (1).

(5)The court may not grant leave to a person falling within subsection (3)(b)(c) or (d) unless it is satisfied that there has been a significant change in circumstances since the making of the special guardianship order.

Definitions used in section 14D 12

the court

(7) For the purposes of this Act “the court” means the High Court or the family court .

Defined in s.92(7) · see it in the full Act
special guardianship order

“special guardian” and “special guardianship order” have the meaning given by section 14A;

Defined in s.105(1) · see it in the full Act
special guardian

“special guardian” and “special guardianship order” have the meaning given by section 14A;

Defined in s.105(1) · see it in the full Act
parent

(2) In this Schedule, except paragraphs 2 and 15, “parent” includes—

(a) any party to a marriage (whether or not subsisting) in relation to whom the child concerned is a child of the family, and

(b) any civil partner in a civil partnership (whether or not subsisting) in relation to whom the child concerned is a child of the family;

Defined in Sch.1 para.16(2) · see it in the full Act

21 In this Part of this Schedule “parent” has the same meaning as in the Education Act 1996 . ).

Defined in Sch.3 para.21 · see it in the full Act
child

16 (1) In this Schedule “child” includes, in any case where an application is made under paragraph 2 or 6 in relation to a person who has reached the age of eighteen, that person.

Defined in Sch.1 para.16(1) · see it in the full Act

“child” means, subject to paragraph 16 of Schedule 1, a person under the age of eighteen;

Defined in s.105(1) · see it in the full Act
child arrangements order

"child arrangements order " means an order regulating arrangements relating to any of the following—

(a)

with whom a child is to live, spend time or otherwise have contact, and

(b)

when a child is to live, spend time or otherwise have contact with any person;

Defined in s.8(1) · see it in the full Act

“child arrangements order” has the meaning given by section 8(1);

Defined in s.105(1) · see it in the full Act
parental responsibility

“parental responsibility” has the meaning given in section 3;

Defined in s.105(1) · see it in the full Act

(1) In this Act “parental responsibility” means all the rights, duties, powers, responsibilities and authority which by law a parent of a child has in relation to the child and his property.

Defined in s.3(1) · see it in the full Act
local authority

“local authority” means, in relation to England ..., the council of a county, a metropolitan district, a London Borough or the Common Council of the City of London in relation to Wales, the council of a county or a county borough and, in relation to Scotland, a local authority within the meaning of section 1(2) of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 ;

Defined in s.105(1) · see it in the full Act
a care order

“a care order” means (subject to section 105(1)) an order under subsection (1)(a) and (except where express provision to the contrary is made) includes an interim care order made under section 38; and

Defined in s.31(11) · see it in the full Act
care order

“care order” has the meaning given by section 31(11) and also includes any order which by or under any enactment has the effect of, or is deemed to be, a care order for the purposes of this Act; and any reference to a child who is in the care of an authority is a reference to a child who is in their care by virtue of a care order;

Defined in s.105(1) · see it in the full Act
family proceedings

“family proceedings” has the meaning given by section 8(3);

Defined in s.105(1) · see it in the full Act

(3) For the purposes of this Act “family proceedings” means any proceedings—

(a)under the inherent jurisdiction of the High Court in relation to children; and

(b)under the enactments mentioned in subsection (4),

Defined in s.8(3) · see it in the full Act
the order

(a) an order under paragraph 1(2)(a) or (b) for the making or securing of periodical payments in favour of more than one child (“the order") is in force;

Defined in Sch.1 para.6(9) · see it in the full Act

Cases considering section 14D 12

F & G, Re (Discharge of Special Guardianship Order)

[2021] EWCA Civ 622 · 30 April 2021Interprets

Interprets the discharge framework: an SGO remains in force until varied or discharged under section 14D rather than automatically ending when a care order is made. (see paras [19]; [44]-[45]) Cites the statutory classes of persons entitled to seek variation or discharge of an SGO. (see para [19]) Confirms that the local authority designated in a care order may apply to discharge an SGO without leave. This implies that the SGO remains in force after the care order begins. (see paras [19]; [44]) Applies the court’s own-motion power in family proceedings concerning welfare, but the procedural use of that power here was unsatisfactory. (see paras [19]; [60]-[61]) Applies the significant-change requirement for a parent seeking leave to apply to discharge an SGO. The mother likely met the threshold but had not obtained leave. (see paras [19]; [60])

M (Special Guardianship Order: Leave To Apply To Discharge) (Rev 1)

[2021] EWCA Civ 442 · 26 March 2021Interprets

The court applied the requirement that a parent obtain leave before applying to discharge a special guardianship order. It gave that requirement effect by allowing the appeal and granting leave. (see paras [22]; [53]) The provision imposes a genuine threshold: a change must be considerable, noteworthy or important, but need not be exceptional or insurmountable. Credible evidence of such change is required before the second-stage evaluation. The lower court unlawfully required a guarantee against relapse. (see paras [27]-[29]; [33]-[34]; [52])

C (A Child) (Special Guardianship Order)

[2019] EWCA Civ 2281 · 20 December 2019Limits

The court confirmed that a parent requires the court’s permission before applying to discharge a special guardianship order. It treated this procedural restriction as demonstrating the order’s greater permanence (see para [69]).

What each judgment says about section 14D is in the case-law panel in the full Act.

Amendments and notes

2 notes from legislation.gov.uk

Amendments

  1. F222Ss. 14A-14G inserted (30.12.2005) by 2002 c. 38, ss. 115(1), 148 (with Sch. 4 paras. 6-8); S.I. 2005/2213, art. 2(k)
  2. F223Words in s. 14D(1)(c) substituted (22.4.2014) by Children and Families Act 2014 (c. 6), s. 139(6), Sch. 2 para. 26; S.I. 2014/889, art. 4(f) (with transitional provisions in S.I. 2014/1042, arts. 3, 4, 6-10) this amendment is subject to savings and/or transitional provisions, see the commentary.