Examined from a legal perspective by suesspiciousminds read in full here: Foster to adopt – two small but significant issues Summary of the significant issues covered by suesspiciousminds "Question 1 – when is the child “placed” for adoption?" The Judge in this case confirmed that the child is not “placed with adopters” until the child is in a position to … Continue reading Foster to adopt – two small but significant issues
Originally posted on Family Law on 4th November 2014. Dr Julia Brophy (with Kate Perry and Eleanor Harrison) has published the next stage in her research on children involved in the family courts, and their confidentiality. EXTRACT ‘A review of anonymised judgments on Bailii: Children, privacy and "jigsaw identification"’published by the Association of Lawyers for Children (ALC) … Continue reading ALC and NYAS publish report on children’s privacy
The PM visited @Coram today to discuss measures to increase the number of children adopted and speed up the process. https://t.co/XHPSKGK2OY — UK Prime Minister (@Number10gov) November 2, 2015 //platform.twitter.com/widgets.js The Prime Minister has announced: new measures to double the number of children placed with their adoptive family sooner children to be placed with relatives … Continue reading Adoption reform
The Association of Directors of Children's Services (ADCS) and Cafcass have issued a joint note on the Assessment of Special Guardians for children in care proceedings applications. EXTRACT "In short, Special Guardianship Orders should neither be recommended nor endorsed nor determined expediently where the test and bar for a carer to pass is lower than … Continue reading Assessment of Special Guardians
Research funded by the Department of Health 'What Happened Next' (2014) has examined decision-making for children in care proceedings and has found that: Decisions made in care proceedings can contribute to reducing the odds of poor developmental outcomes for 'maltreated' (sic) children. Substitute families and apparent changes in birth families were associated with improvements in the children’s relationships and adaptation. … Continue reading Care Proceedings: Outcomes for children
Posted on October 21, 2015 by suesspiciousminds All IROs should make the time to read this important blog about S20 drift Extract "... an important check and balance on social worker’s actions or inactions is supposed to be the Independent Reviewing Officer system. The IROs are supposed to hold social workers to account and make sure that things like this don’t happen. There are … Continue reading IROs be warned: “Fast and the Furious – Tunbridge Wells Drift”
Another great blog by suesspiciousminds of interest to all IROs. Extract Her Honour Rowe QC considered this case, where a Local Authority removed a child and placed the child in foster care when at the time, the mother knew nothing about it. It is a decision by a Circuit Judge and thus not any new binding law, but … Continue reading Unlawful removal of a child, compensation paid
Another great blog Natasha Phillips, editor at Researching Reform. There have been a number of cases of innocent parents losing their children to the care and adoption system. As a result a number of campaigners are trying to change the law. Extract As Michael Turner QC notes, cases where parents have been wrongly accused of harming their children are … Continue reading Couple Cleared Of Child Abuse Campaign For Change In The Law
Recommended reading Consider using this article as an aid to discussion about the appropriate use of section 20 arrangements. Hannah Gomersall examines the recent case law around section 20 of the Children Act 1989 and two concerning trends: s 20 being abused or, worryingly, not used at all. Link: Abusing or simply not using section 20 of the … Continue reading Abusing or simply not using section 20 of the Children Act 1989
Source: Community Care Research from Northumbria University finds guardians offer a head start in planning, which leads to fewer requests for additional reports. Cases averaged 23.5 weeks when family court advisers were involved before the case went to court, as opposed to 26.1 weeks when families did not have an adviser pre-proceedings. The pilot study … Continue reading Care cases shorter if family court advisers are involved in pre-proceedings practice
