Ben Butler guilty of murdering daughter Ellie – BBC News
‘A man has been found guilty of murdering his six-year-old daughter just 11 months after she was returned to his care following a custody battle’
BBC News, 21st June 2016
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Category: social services
They think they’ve got away: How to catch a historical sex offender – BBC News
‘Sex offenders think they’ll get away with it. And often they do. Sometimes it can take years to bring them to justice, while others escape retribution altogether. So how do you go about making sure perpetrators of horrendous crimes committed in the distant past are caught and convicted?’
BBC News, 20th June 2016
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Mental health services missed chances to save suicidal teenager, coroner rules – The Guardian
‘Social care agencies missed opportunities to help a 17-year-old girl who took her own life months after being removed from a child protection plan, a coroner has ruled. Katy Skerrett, the senior coroner for Gloucestershire, said there had been a lack of communication between mental health and social care professionals in the treatment provided to Anielka Jennings.’
The Guardian, 15th June 2016
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
High Court quashes appointment of social worker to supervise sex offender – Local Government Lawyer
‘City and County of Swansea Council has succeeded in having a court order quashed that would have made an inexperienced and unwilling social worker the supervisor of a child sex offender.’
Local Government Lawyer, 15th June 2016
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
Poppi Worthington: ‘normalised’ troubled background meant alarm bells never sounded – Daily Telegraph
‘A total lack of “professional curiosity” by health workers about the troubled family background of the toddler Poppi Worthington meant vital questions which might have prevented her death were never asked, an official report finds.’
Daily Telegraph, 13th June 2016
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
EU court rejects child benefits challenge – BBC News
‘A challenge to the UK’s right to deny some EU migrants child benefit and child tax credits has been rejected by European judges.’
BBC News, 15th June 2016
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
More than 1,200 FGM cases recorded across England in three months – The Guardian
‘Midwives have called for renewed efforts to tackle female genital mutilation (FGM) after more than 1,200 cases were recorded across England in just three months. This includes 11 Britons who were identified as being subject to FGM.’
The Guardian, 9th June 2016
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Would mandatory reporting help stop child abuse? – The Guardian
‘The proposal to introduce mandatory reporting in the victims of crime bill has divided opinion – an objective discussion is needed.’
The Guardian, 6th June 2016
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Drug counsellors, how could drug legislation be improved? – The Guardian
‘As an annual survey finds MDMA is making a comeback, we want to hear from those who work with addiction about reducing the damage of drug misuse.’
The Guardian, 31st May 2016
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
‘Dangerous’ police recording system putting children at risk, MPs say – The Guardian
‘At least 10,000 children who go missing could be at “terrible risk” because a “dangerous” police recording system means they fall off the radar, an all-party group of MPs has said. Ann Coffey, the Labour chair of the all-party inquiry, said that a new “absent” category introduced in the police recording system was dangerous and should be scrapped.’
The Guardian, 26th May 2016
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
The new era promised by the Care Act is yet to arrive – The Guardian
‘One year after the act came into force, the momentum behind the changes risks being lost.’
The Guardian, 23rd May 2016
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Council to pay £17,500 damages to 14 year old for human rights breaches – Local Government Lawyer
‘A High Court judge has ordered a county council to pay £17,500 in damages to a 14-year-old girl in care for breaches of her human rights.’
Local Government Lawyer, 17th May 2016
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
Questions and Answers – Nearly Legal
‘A judicial review of a decision on a s.17 Children Act 1989 assessment of a homeless, non-eligible family. The issues were the extent of investigations required, and legitimate conclusions to be drawn from a lack of information provided.’
Nearly Legal, 8th May 2016
Source: www.nearlylegal.co.uk
Serious case review to probe whether toddler battered to death by foster mother could have been saved – Daily Telegraph
‘Social services are facing questions after a “barbaric” woman beat an 18-month-old girl in her care to death, inflicting 200 injuries on her and trying to blame her eldest son for the child’s death.’
Daily Telegraph, 3rd May 2016
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Age assessment and litigation fairness – Local Government Lawyer
‘The Court of Appeal has handed down a wide-reaching judgment that directly concerns age assessment cases, but the principles enunciated apply to all litigation (private and public), writes Peter Oldham QC.’
Local Government Lawyer, 28th April 2016
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
Judge rejects challenge over refusal of support under s.17 Children Act – Local Government Lawyer
‘A High Court judge has rejected a judicial review challenge brought by a claimant via her mother over a London borough’s decision to refuse to provide accommodation and support.’
Local Government Lawyer, 3rd May 2016
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk/
Adoption: A Vision for Change – permanency and ‘the last resort’ – Family Law Week
‘Adrian Barnett-Thoung-Holland, pupil barrister at Fourteen, considers how the Department for Education’s proposed four year plan may affect permanency options for children in care.’
Family Law Week, 17th April 2016
Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk
Senior childcare lawyer warns of pressures from “remorseless” rise in cases – Local Government Lawyer
‘A significant rise in public law children cases is putting more pressure on social workers and child care lawyers, all of whom are experiencing significant budgetary cutbacks, a senior local authority lawyer has warned.’
Local Government Lawyer, 18th April 2016
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
Ayeeshia Jane Smith murder: Mother jailed for at least 24 years – BBC News
‘A “devious” and “selfish” mother has been jailed for at least 24 years for stamping her toddler daughter to death.’
BBC News, 11th April 2016
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Covert Recording by Parents – Nothing to Fear but the Truth? – Family Law Week
‘Farooq Ahmed, barrister of Westgate Chambers and recorder, addresses the legal issues arising when parents embroiled in children proceedings record conversations or events.’
Family Law Week, 8th April 2016
Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk
