The Ministry of Justice is drawing up new guidelines to help local authority lawyers tackle problems faced during child care cases.

The Gazette has learned that new guidance is intended to make the Public Law Outline (PLO), introduced in April last year, more effective and easier to use. The PLO, drawn up to improve co-operation between parties involved in care and supervision cases, has been criticised for creating paperwork.

The MoJ is discussing the new guidance with groups including Solicitors in Local Government and the Association of Lawyers for Children.

A 48-page draft, Preparing for Care and Supervision Proceedings, is described as a quick reference tool. It consists of two parts, covering pre-proceedings stages and what happens after a local authority makes an application to court.

Solicitors in Local Government child care lawyers group chair Graham Cole said the best practice guidance is intended to make the PLO more effective.

Figures released last week by the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service show that, in the three months after the PLO was introduced, the number of care applications fell by 27.5%. However, since October 2008, applications have gradually risen.