‘Overwhelming and emotionally traumatic’: 1 in 6 new mothers only given a day’s notice of care proceedings, research says – The Independent

‘One in six mothers involved in care proceedings over the last year were given just a day’s notice of a court hearing to decide whether their newborn child would be taken into care, according to research. The vast majority of such women in England and Wales receive less than one week’s notice, new analysis shows.’

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The Independent, 5th June 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Postcode lottery for baby care orders – judge – BBC News

‘Care order applications are usually made when social workers decide a mother is unable to look after her child on her own. The baby will probably go into foster care and it may be adopted.’

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BBC News, 4th June 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Court of Appeal allows appeal over decision by Family Court judge not to separate mother and baby – Local Government Lawyer

Posted April 15th, 2021 in appeals, children, fostering, local government, news by sally

‘The Court of Appeal has allowed an appeal by a local authority over a judge’s decision not to separate a mother and a baby.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 15th April 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Judge orders children to be taken into long-term foster care over concerns about weight – Local Government Lawyer

‘A Family Court judge has made a care order for two children described as “severely overweight” to be taken into long-term foster care, following an application by West Sussex County Council.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 15th March 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

High Court rejects application by mother to prevent local authority from imposing vaccinations on child in foster care – Local Government Lawyer

‘A High Court judge has rejected a mother’s application, supported by the father, to prevent a local authority from imposing a programme of vaccinations on a child in foster care without their consent.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 26th February 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Stuck Between a Virus and a Human Rights Breach… – Garden Court Chambers

Posted February 25th, 2021 in carers, coronavirus, fostering, human rights, local government, news by sally

‘These are strange times and the risks posed by the pandemic are constantly changing and increasing. The impact of this on individuals is significant and concerns about personal safety are high. Balancing those concerns with schooling, home schooling and contact means this will become even more difficult.’

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Garden Court Chambers, 24th February 2021

Source: www.gardencourtchambers.co.uk

Vulnerable teen given tent to live in, watchdog report finds – BBC News

Posted December 10th, 2020 in care orders, children, fostering, news, ombudsmen, reports by tracey

‘A teenager given a tent to live in, and a child denied the chance to say “goodbye” to his dying mother feature in a report revealing heart-breaking decisions about children in care.’

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BBC News, 10th December 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Court of Appeal highlights need for early legal advice where adoption placements near point of breakdown – Local Government Lawyer

Posted December 1st, 2020 in adoption, appeals, fostering, local government, news, notification by sally

‘The first reported occasion on which the courts have had to consider whether prospective adopters gave notice of their wish to return the child highlights the need for early legal advice, the Court of Appeal has said.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 30th November 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Court of Appeal hands down ruling on changing nationality of children in care – Local Government Lawyer

‘A local authority cannot seek to change the nationality of children in care without the matter being considered by the High Court, the Court of Appeal has ruled.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 13th August 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Religious fostering service given permission on one ground to appeal rejection of judicial review challenge over Ofsted report – Local Government Lawyer

‘A High Court judge has given a Christian fostering service permission to appeal on one ground following his dismissal earlier this month of its judicial review challenge to a report by Ofsted.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 29th July 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

One size fits all? – No. 5 Chambers

‘The recent judgment of the Court of Appeal in Re LC (A Child) (Placement Order) [2020] EWCA Civ 787 should serve as a reminder to practitioners in the field of Children Law that each case has to be considered on its peculiar facts and by reference, where applicable, to the welfare checklist in section 1 of the Children Act 1989 or the enhanced welfare checklist contained in section 1 of the Adoption and Children Act 2002.’

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No. 5 Chambers, 30th June 2020

Source: www.no5.com

Sunderland Christian foster service ‘must allow gay carers’ says High Court – Local Government Lawyer

‘A Christian Foster service has been told it must allow gay parents to sign up as carers, the High Court has ruled.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 9th July 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Watering down children’s rights – Doughty Street Chambers

‘This post, written by a member of the Doughty Street Chambers’ Children’s Rights Group, raises questions about the necessity and proportionality of the Adoption and Children (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020. It suggests that the Regulations are likely to breach the UK’s international human rights commitments at a time when children need such protections more than ever.’

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Doughty Street Chambers, 19th May 2020

Source: insights.doughtystreet.co.uk

Children in care and vaccinations: who decides? – UK Human Rights Blog

‘In the current circumstances, this case has important resonances and maybe even implications for future vaccinations. It was an appeal by the parents of a ten year old child against a decision that the local authority, had lawful authority to have the child vaccinated (pursuant to Section 33(3) of the Children Act 1989.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 28th May 2020

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Re B (Children) (Remote Hearing: Interim Care Order) [2020] EWCA Civ 584 by Emily Ward – Broadway House Chambers

‘This is the second case relating to the welfare of children to reach the Court of Appeal on the issue of remote hearings during the Covid-19 pandemic. The same panel of judges who dealt with Re A presided in this case. You can find the decision Re A here and Re B here.’

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Broadway House Chambers, 11th May 2020

Source: broadwayhouse.co.uk

Re A (Children) (Remote Hearing: Care and Placement Orders)[2020] EWCA Civ 583 – Broadway House Chambers

‘This is the first appeal in a case relating to the welfare of children to reach the Court of Appeal on the issue of remote hearings during the Covid-19 crisis.’

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Broadway House Chambers, 1st May 2020

Source: broadwayhouse.co.uk

The Adoption and Children (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020, and a little bit of history. – Transparency Project

‘The regulations make changes to the duties that local authorities have with regards to safeguarding children. These are temporary changes and the regulations give a date in September 2020 for them to lapse. This date can be extended, reviewed or simply removed. They were simply made by virtue of the Coronavirus Act 2020. Parliament did not need to approve them first.’

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Transparency Project, 3rd May 2020

Source: www.transparencyproject.org.uk

Government relaxation of regulations relating to children’s social care draws criticism – Local Government Lawyer

‘The government has amended several sets of regulations with a view to assisting the children’s social care sector during the coronavirus pandemic but the move has been strongly criticised by a children’s rights charity.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 28th April 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Article 8: Test for Family Life arising out of Foster Care is no different to that of “Birth Families” – UK Human Rights Blog

‘On 12 March 2020 a unanimous Court of Appeal led by Sir Ernest Ryder (Senior President of the Tribunals), together with Lord Justice Bean and Lady Justice King, allowed the Appellant’s appeal against the First tier Tribunal (“FtT”) and Upper Tribunal (“UT”)’s decisions upholding the refusal of his application for leave to remain.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 24th March 2020

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Amendment of LA Plan, post final orders – what can parents do? – Local Government Lawyer

Posted March 13th, 2020 in appeals, care orders, children, families, fostering, human rights, local government, news by tracey

‘Natalie Cross looks at what needs to happen where parents seek to challenge a change to a care plan where the earlier plan (i.e. remaining at home) has already been approved by the court when the final order was made.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 13th March 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk