Men who groom vulnerable young girls will be dealt with ‘severely’, judge says – The Guardian

‘The most senior judge in England and Wales today said men who prey on vulnerable young girls for sex will be dealt with “severely”, as he dismissed appeals from four paedophile groomers.’

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The Guardian, 9th December 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Independent Living Fund closure ruled lawful – BBC News

‘A government decision to close a fund that helps disabled people to live and work in the community has been ruled lawful by the High Court.’

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BBC News, 8th December 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

FGM: UK plan to require professionals to report suspected cases – The Guardian

Posted December 6th, 2014 in doctors, female genital mutilation, news, social services, teachers by sally

‘Campaigners against female genital mutilation (FGM) have cautiously welcomed government moves to require professionals to report suspected cases of FGM, but warned of the risk of alienating communities and forcing the practice further underground.’

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The Guardian, 5th December 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Regina (J) v Worcestershire County Council (Equality and Human Rights Commission intervening) – WLR Daily

Posted December 2nd, 2014 in children, law reports, local government, social services by sally

Regina (J) v Worcestershire County Council (Equality and Human Rights Commission intervening) [2014] EWCA Civ 1518; [2014] WLR (D) 503

‘A local authority’s power to provide services to children in need under section 17 of the Children Act 1989 was not limited to children who were physically present in the local authority’s area at the time when the services were provided but extended to the provision of services to children who, although physically present at the time of assessment as children in need, were outside the area at the time of provision.’

WLR Daily, 25th November 2014

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Regina (GE) (Eritrea) v Secretary of State for the Home Department and another – WLR Daily

Posted December 2nd, 2014 in appeals, asylum, children, law reports, social services by sally

Regina (GE) (Eritrea) v Secretary of State for the Home Department and another [2014] EWCA Civ 1490; [2014] WLR (D) 500

‘A person who had been entitled to the provision of assistance by a local authority under the Children Act 1989 as a child in need, but to whom no assistance was in fact provided, did not fall within the definitions of “looked after” child, “relevant child” and “eligible child” in the 1989 Act and could not therefore, on attaining his majority, become a “former relevant child” for the purposes of section 23C of the 1989 Act, to whom the local authority owed continuing statutory duties for the provision of assistance. Where a local authority mistakenly but not unfairly or unlawfully concluded that a person was not a child and decided not to perform any duties towards him as a child in need under the 1989 Act, its failure to perform those duties was unlawful. The local authority could use its discretionary powers to provide services that it might have been obliged to provide if the person had been a former relevant child.’

WLR Daily, 20th November 2014

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Inherently Uncertain: Is there authority for that? Questions over Birmingham’s Grooming Injunctions – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted December 2nd, 2014 in children, injunctions, news, sexual grooming, social services by sally

‘Over the last month Mr Justice Keehan has made a series of injunctions at the behest of Birmingham City Council designed to protect a vulnerable child in care from being groomed. It seems that the Orders are of such breadth that they are believed to have entered uncharted territory but there are questions whether there is any authority for this development.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 1st December 2014

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Judge attacks social workers for “grossly overstating” case in evidence – Local Government Lawyer

Posted November 28th, 2014 in bias, care orders, child abuse, evidence, news, social services by sally

‘A judge has sharply criticised social workers for giving “visibly biased” evidence when a local authority applied for a final care order in relation to a three-year-old boy with a view to placing him for adoption.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 28th November 2014

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Baby P effect takes children in care numbers to 25-year high, says NAO – The Guardian

Posted November 27th, 2014 in care orders, children, news, social services by sally

‘The number of children in care has risen to its highest level for nearly 25 years following the death of Baby P and recent child sex exploitation scandals, the government’s spending watchdog has found.’

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The Guardian, 27th November 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Children’s home owner John Allen found guilty of 26 sexual abuse charges – The Guardian

Posted November 27th, 2014 in care homes, carers, child abuse, complaints, news, police, sexual offences, social services by sally

‘The owner of a group of children’s homes has been found guilty of 26 charges of sexual abuse against troubled and vulnerable youngsters who were in his care.’

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The Guardian, 26th November 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Father prosecuted after leaving daughter in car for ten minutes – Daily Telegraph

Posted November 24th, 2014 in child neglect, news, prosecutions, social services by sally

‘Tim Haines tells of nightmare battle to clear his name after leaving toddler alone for 10 minutes while he dashed to nearby pharmacy.’

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Daily Telegraph, 23rd November 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Council seeks to protect vulnerable children with ‘novel’ legal action – The Guardian

Posted November 18th, 2014 in children, injunctions, local government, news, social services by sally

‘Social services bosses in Birmingham say they are taking innovative legal action in an effort to protect vulnerable children who may be victims of sexual exploitation.’

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The Guardian, 17th November 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Sperm deal children ‘irredeemably marred’ by four-parent feud – Daily Telegraph

‘Judge warns of trauma ‘unleashed’ by fallout from ‘known-donor fertilisation’ arrangement between former friends.’

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Daily Telegraph, 3rd November 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Seven years on, why is the Baby P case still making headlines? – The Guardian

Posted October 28th, 2014 in media, news, police, social services by sally

‘As a new BBC documentary claims to tell the untold story behind the case, Harry Ferguson argues that confidence in social work has been undermined.’

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The Guardian, 27th October 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

‘People think that’s what Asians are doing’, says man banned from approaching girls – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 28th, 2014 in children, injunctions, news, sexual grooming, social services by sally

‘A High Court judge bans a group of men from approaching any girl under 18 with whom they are not personally associated after a vulnerable teenager is found in a hotel room.’

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Daily Telegraph, 28th October 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Denial of legal aid in Court of Protection cases “a false economy”, says judge – Local Government Lawyer

‘Denying individuals legal aid for complex Court of Protection cases is a false economy, a High Court judge has warned.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 8th October 2014

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

How could 16-year-old Christina be killed on her way to school? – Daily Telegraph

‘As a report declares the fatal stabbing of schoolgirl Christina Edkins as ‘preventable’, her family speak out about the serious failings that led to the unprovoked attack.’

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Daily Telegraph, 21st September 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Gloucester cellar sex attack ‘not preventable’ – BBC News

‘A sex attack by two teenagers on a boy in a cellar in Gloucester could not have been anticipated or prevented, a report has found.’

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BBC News, 18th September 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Care Proceedings and the European Dimension: Article 15 Transfers – Family Law Week

‘Michael Jones, barrister of 15 Winckley Square, considers recent developments in respect of care proceedings involving another European state.’

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Family Law Week, 16th September 2014

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Christina Edkins inquiry finds missed opportunities to prevent killing – The Guardian

Posted September 15th, 2014 in homelessness, homicide, inquiries, mental health, news, social services by tracey

‘A string of agencies and professionals missed opportunities to prevent the death of schoolgirl Christina Edkins, who was fatally stabbed on a bus by a homeless man with serious mental health issues, an investigation has concluded.’

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The Guardian, 15th September 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Rotherham Council to be subject of independent inspection – BBC News

Posted September 11th, 2014 in child abuse, inquiries, local government, news, social services by sally

‘Rotherham Council is to face an independent inspection following the report that revealed 1,400 children were sexually abused in the town.’

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BBC News, 10th September 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk