‘The Ministry of Justice has been ordered to improve its systems after details of parties in an adoption process were leaked to the birth father. The data breach happened despite the court judge directing that the father be excluded from proceedings as he posed a risk to the family concerned.’
Law Society's Gazette, 11th September 2023
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
‘A deputy High Court judge has agreed that a local authority need not tell any family members about twins being placed for adoption.’
Local Government Lawyer, 3rd August 2023
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
The Children’s Commissioner for England, Dame Rachel de Souza, is to ask care-experienced people for their views on whether care experience should be a ‘protected characteristic’ under the Equality Act 2010 – “like age, disability or religion currently are”.
Local Government Lawyer, 1st August 2023
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
‘The making of an adoption order changes a child’s family law status and legal identity forever, and only in the most exceptional circumstances is an adoption order ever revoked; most likely, if at all, as a result of serious procedural unfairness or irregularity, or misrepresentation. It is a well-established legal principle that, therefore, all “realistic” options need to be explored before adoption is endorsed as a child’s care plan. That is no different when it comes to the voluntary relinquishment of a child for adoption, by both parents, or more likely, by one parent, the mother.’
Family Law, 6th July 2023
Source: www.familylaw.co.uk
‘Jennifer Frost rounds up the latest public law children cases of interest to practitioners.’
Local Government Lawyer, 26th May 2023
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
‘The Court of Appeal has handed down a key ruling on the adequacy of reasons in a judgment in care proceedings, and the approach that should be taken to clarification, writes Jennifer Youngs.’
Local Government Lawyer, 21st April 2023
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
‘The Family Court did not act unfairly when a judge refused to adjourn an adoption case when the mother’s solicitors withdrew at a late stage, the Court of Appeal had decided.’
Local Government Lawyer, 8th March 2023
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
‘A Family Court judge has said he cannot compel a mother to disclose the identity of a toddler’s birth father, even though he should have been told of the child’s existence before adoption proceedings are completed.’
Local Government Lawyer, 23rd February 2023
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
‘A High Court judge recently granted an application to reopen findings of fact in a case centring on allegations of serious non-accidental injury. Rajni Virk considers the decision and practical issues that arise.’
Local Government Lawyer, 17th February 2023
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
‘The Ministry of Justice has changed the law so that foster parents and approved prospective adopted parents bringing SEND appeals on behalf of a looked-after child will “not be means assessed”.’
Local Government Lawyer, 14th February 2023
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
‘Following the conclusion of Care proceedings and where a child has been placed for adoption, a parent may only oppose the making of an adoption order with leave of the court. A parent’s application seeking leave of the court will have two stages. Firstly, the court needs to be satisfied, on the facts, that there has been a change of circumstances within section 47(7) Adoption and Children Act 2002 (“the 2002 Act”). Secondly, if there has been such a change, the court will then need to consider the application of section 1 of the 2002 Act to the facts of the case with the paramount consideration of the court being the child’s welfare throughout their life.’
Becket Chambers, 19th October 2022
Source: becket-chambers.co.uk
‘Lisa Edmunds summarises four decisions about proportionality in adoption cases and sets out the takeaway points for everyday practice.’
Local Government Lawyer, 26th August 2022
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
‘This article considers the successful appeal of a first instance case in which a final placement order was made in respect of a young child with complex medical needs.’
Becket Chambers, 10th August 2022
Source: becket-chambers.co.uk
‘The adoptive mother of Tony Hudgell, a little boy who was tortured by his parents, has said she is “over the moon” that his birth mother may not be released from jail this week as planned.’
The Independent, 11th August 2022
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘Information about drinking, debts and mental health that could have prevented a baby boy being placed with an adopting mother who went on to murder him was not shared between agencies, an investigation has concluded.’
The Guardian, 28th July 2022
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘Hundreds of thousands of unmarried women who were forced to give up their babies for adoption should receive a government apology, a report has said.’
BBC News, 15th July 2022
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘The Supreme Court will next week (15 June) hand down its ruling on whether, when an appellate court reviews a first instance decision concerning the proportionality of orders made under the courts’ obligations under the Human Rights Act 1998, it is necessary for the appellate court to undertake its own proportionality assessment of that decision.’
Local Government Lawyer, 9th June 2022
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
‘A former care worker who used physical force and lost her temper with a baby boy she was in the process of adopting has been found guilty of murder.’
The Guardian, 17th May 2022
Source: www.theguardian.com
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