Phillip Nicholson: ‘Chances missed’ to protect murdered man – BBC News
‘A vulnerable man who was murdered by his ex-partner and her lover could have been better protected, a review found.’
BBC News, 14th March 2019
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Category: social services
A Brief Guide to Carrying out Capacity Assessments -39 Essex Chambers
‘This purpose of this document is to provide for social workers and those working in front-line clinical settings a brief overview of the law and principles relating to the assessment of capacity. Its focus is on (a) how to apply the MCA 2005 principles when assessing capacity; and (b) how to record your assessment, primarily in the context of health and welfare decisions.’
39 Essex Chambers, March 2019
Government faces High Court action over children’s rights – BBC News
‘A children’s charity is taking High Court action against the government over its claims that some protections of children in care are “myths”. The Article 39 charity is seeking a judicial review of Department for Education guidance to local councils responsible for vulnerable children.’
BBC News, 22nd February 2019
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Newspapers secure summary judgment over libel claims brought by social worker – Local Government Lawyer
‘Two national newspaper groups have obtained summary judgment over libel claims brought by a former senior social worker.’
Local Government Lawyer, 16th January 2019
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
Woman ordered not to contact son spared jail for going to parents’ evening – The Guardian
‘A woman under orders not to contact her son has been spared jail for accepting an invitation to attend a parents’ evening at his London school.’
The Guardian, 14th January 2018
Source: www.theguardian.com
Opinion: Why do we separate the mother and child victims of domestic abuse? – Family Law
‘Domestic abuse hurts children, whether they are the direct target, or find themselves witness to warfare in their home. The latest government figures show that half of all children assessed as needing social services support are in that plight through domestic abuse – and when social workers feel a child is no longer safe at home, they can be removed into the care system. This means being taken away from their mothers – typically the victim in all this. But she’s not usually the one being violent. Most often, it’s the children’s father or stepfather who is. As rates of reported domestic abuse soar – incidents sufficiently serious to be recorded by police as crimes rose 5% between 2016 and 2017, according to the Office for National Statistics – it’s estimated by the charity Safe Lives that 130,000 children live in households with “high‑risk” domestic abuse. So why are victims investigated by social services, rather than the perpetrators who cause such physical and mental harm?’
Family Law, 14th January 2018
Source: www.familylaw.co.uk
Sexual assault victims waiting a year for counselling, MPs say – The Guardian
‘Sexual assault victims are waiting up to 14 months for counselling as specialist support services struggle to cope with unprecedented demand, MPs have said.’
The Guardian, 11th December 2018
Source: www.theguardian.com
Anonymisation Guidance – a curtain of secrecy? – Transparency Project
‘The President of the Family Division, Sir Andrew MacFarlane issued some guidance last week on the anonymisation of published judgments in family court cases.’
Transparency Project, 10th December 2018
Source: www.transparencyproject.org.uk
Family Court judge raps council for “woeful” care of two young women – Local Government Lawyer
‘A Family Court judge has condemned a council’s care for two young women as “woeful” and said he was “appalled” by failures of social workers and managers.’
Local Government Lawyer, 11th December 2018
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
Speech by Rt. Hon. Sir Andrew McFarlane: Association of Lawyers for Children Conference 2018 – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary
‘Speech by Rt. Hon. Sir Andrew McFarlane: Association of Lawyers for Children Conference 2018.’
Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 23rd November 2018
Source: www.judiciary.uk
Social services under fire after boy placed into foster care before grandparents knew he was born – The Indepdendent
‘A family court judge has criticised a council’s social services department after it emerged that a little boy was placed with foster carers when grandparents who might have offered a home were unaware of his existence.’
The Indepdendent, 7th November 2018
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Legislating on loneliness: limitless or lonesome? – Family Law
‘Olwen Dutton, partner at Anthony Collins Solicitors LLP, discusses the key aspects of the government’s loneliness strategy. Dutton also considers any potential ethical issues stemming from the social prescription aspect of the strategy, whereby GPs will be able to refer patients who are experiencing loneliness to community activities and voluntary services.’
Family Law, 6th November 2018
Source: www.familylaw.co.uk
Legal Services Board approves new SRA Handbook in full – Legal Futures
‘The Legal Services Board (LSB) has approved the new SRA Handbook, including the controversial proposal to allow solicitors to provide unreserved services to the public from unregulated businesses.’
Legal Futures, 6th November 2018
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
Health and Social Care of Older People is a Human Rights Issue – Rights Info
‘The independent healthcare regulator, the Care Quality Commission recently warned that disjointed health and social care services in England are placing increasing pressure on A&E departments. As pressure grows on the country’s health and care system, what does this mean for the human rights of older people?’
Rights Info, 18th October 2018
Source: rightsinfo.org
Woman with learning difficulties not told she had contraceptive device covertly fitted – Daily Telegraph
‘A young woman with learning difficulties should not be told she was covertly fitted with a contraceptive device as it would ruin her trust in her carers, a court has ruled.’
Daily Telegraph, 18th October 2018
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Remembering Louis Blom-Cooper, A Human Rights Champion – Rights Info
‘Lawyer and human rights champion Sir Louis Blom-Cooper passed away in London, aged 92, on September 19, 2018. Here are some of the ways in which Blom-Cooper blazed a trail for human rights.’
Rights Info, 2nd October 2018
Source: rightsinfo.org
Councils using ‘hundreds of thousands of people’s data to try and predict child abuse’ – Daily Telegraph
‘Councils are said to be using hundreds of thousands of people’s data to try and predict child abuse, it has emerged.’
Daily Telegraph, 17th September 2018
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Restructuring options for UK local authorities – OUT-LAW.com
‘UK central government cuts and the fast-growing cost of social care have led to significant financial strain on local authorities. What are the restructuring options available to UK local authorities facing unlawful overspending?’
OUT-LAW.com, 20th August 2018
Source: www.out-law.com
Matthew Scully-Hicks: Social services chief apologises for mistakes leading to toddler being murdered by adoptive father – The Independent
‘A social services chief has apologised for mistakes in the care of a baby girl who was murdered by her father two weeks after he adopted her. A review has found that both social services workers and a doctor missed opportunities to spot anything abnormal when Elsie Scully-Hicks suffered a catalogue of injuries in the months before she died.’
The Independent, 2nd August 2018
Source: www.independent.co.uk
