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

The UK Government’s guidance on combating coronavirus in care homes is inconsistent with WHO standards – Doughty Street Chambers

‘This paper contributes a combined human rights perspective and an infection prevention and control perspective to the COVID-19 situation in long-term care homes in the UK.’

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Doughty Street Chambers, 21st April 2020

Source: insights.doughtystreet.co.uk

Covid-19: contact with children in care – 5SAH

‘We are plotting a course through unchartered waters. Never before has the family justice system had to deal with such a wide-reaching challenge as the COVID-19 epidemic. The issue of contact with children in care presents one of the most turbulent seas to cross. This article explores the legal principles that will give family practitioners their bearings and guide the court’s approach through the coming weeks and months.’

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5SAH, 6th April 2020

Source: www.5sah.co.uk

Directors disqualified after abandoning care homes, diverting council funds – Local Government Lawyer

‘The directors of two care homes in the Midlands have been disqualified after they diverted council funds before abandoning elderly residents and staff, the Insolvency Services has revealed.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 31st March 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Question of Incompatibility – Deprivation of Children’s Liberty Without Court Order? – Family Law Week

‘All persons are guaranteed the right to liberty and security of the person, as enshrined in Article 5 of the European Convention of Human Rights. As such, when an issue arises with regard to a potential deprivation of liberty of a child (or indeed of any person), appropriate procedural safeguards must be in place to ensure the child’s Article 5 as well as their Article 8 rights to private and family life are sufficiently protected. For some time, the courts have undertaken this process through the use of the inherent jurisdiction of the High Court to authorise and review any such deprivation of liberty in a way that renders the process compliant with Article 5.’

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Family Law Week, 12th March 2020

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Question of Incompatibility – Deprivation of Children’s Liberty Without Court Order? – Family Law Week

Posted March 13th, 2020 in care homes, care orders, children, families, human rights, news, privacy by tracey

‘Helen Crowell, Pupil Barrister and Shaun Spencer, Barrister, of St Johns Buildings discuss Deprivation of Liberty and the Children’s Home Regulations 2015.’

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Family Law Week, 12th March 2020

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Government ‘to ban’ placing children in unregulated homes – BBC News

‘The government is set to ban the placement of children in care under the age of 16 in unregulated homes in England, following a BBC investigation.’

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BBC News, 12th February 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Unregulated accommodation – Family Law Week

‘Chris MacDonald, Children’s Guardian at CAFCASS, considers the issues arising when a young person is placed in semi-independent accommodation.’

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Family Law Week, 24th January 2020

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Care firm’s leadership criticised by Care Quality Commission – BBC News

Posted January 14th, 2020 in care homes, hospitals, mental health, news by sally

‘Concerns have been raised by inspectors about the leadership at a firm at the centre of a BBC expose over allegations of abuse at a mental health hospital.’

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BBC News, 14th January 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Sexual assault investigation into a child with learning difficulties not a breach of article 3 – Police Law Blog

‘In R (AB) v Chief Constable of Hampshire Constabulary [2019] EWHC 3461 (Admin), the Divisional Court considered a claim on behalf of a boy with severe learning and communication disabilities, that police had failed properly to investigate what appeared to be a disclosure by him of a sexual assault during a stay at in respite care. He argued that they had wrongly proceeded to interview him despite no witness intermediary being available and had subsequently failed to re-interview him with an intermediary. He argued that this was a breach of Article 3, and unlawful disability discrimination. The Court dismissed the claim, also giving important procedural guidance.’

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Police Law Blog, 17th December 2019

Source: ukpolicelawblog.com

Care home owner John Allen jailed for more child sex abuse – BBC News

Posted January 9th, 2020 in care homes, child abuse, news, sentencing, sexual offences by tracey

‘A former care home owner, already serving a life sentence for child sex abuse, has been jailed for 14 years for more historical offences against boys.’

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BBC News, 8th January 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Council fined £500k after first prosecution by CQC over failure to provide safe care – Local Government Lawyer

‘Derbyshire County Council has been fined £500,000 following the first prosecution that the Care Quality Commission has brought against a local authority since the watchdog was given powers to prosecute health and social care providers for failing to provide safe care and treatment in 2015.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 10th December 2019

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Care home owner John Allen guilty of child sex abuse – BBC News

Posted December 11th, 2019 in abuse of position of trust, care homes, child abuse, children, news, sexual offences by tracey

‘A former care home owner, already serving a life sentence for child sex abuse, has been found guilty of more historical offences against boys.’

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BBC News, 10th December 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Girl sexually exploited ‘by over 40 adults’ while in care – The Guardian

‘The children’s commissioner has been called on to intervene in the case of a vulnerable teenager alleged to have been the victim of a catalogue of failures at the hands of social workers, medical authorities and police.’

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The Guardian, 8th December 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Family Law Newsletter #31 – Spire Barristers

‘Articles from around the web, Legislation updates and Case Updates from Care Proceedings and Financial Remedy matters.’

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Spire Barristers, 2nd December 2019

Source: spirebarristers.co.uk

“Severe failures” in care led to the death of vulnerable pensioner Leocardo Loney – Garden Court Chambers

Posted November 20th, 2019 in care homes, elderly, inquests, news by sally

‘The family of a vulnerable London man who was found dead more than two months after he went missing from Willow House, the extra care housing where he lived, have spoken out following an inquest into his death.’

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Garden Court Chambers, 7th November 2019

Source: www.gardencourtchambers.co.uk

Children as young as 11 placed in unregulated care homes – BBC News

Posted September 20th, 2019 in care homes, child abuse, children, local government, news by sally

‘Children as young as 11 years old are illegally being placed in unregulated homes in England, the BBC has learned.’

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BBC News, 19th September 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Child sex abuse inquiry: Victims with criminal records denied compensation – BBC News

‘Survivors of sexual abuse in care homes are denied compensation or have payouts cut because of their own criminal convictions, an inquiry has found.’

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BBC News, 19th September 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Care home manager to be sentenced for failure to disclose evidence at inquest – Local Government Lawyer

Posted August 22nd, 2019 in care homes, disclosure, evidence, inquests, news, prosecutions, sentencing by sally

‘A former manager at a care home where a young woman died is due to be sentenced later this month for failing to attend and disclose evidence to an inquest.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 21st August 2019

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Children in care in Nottingham ‘abused by predators’ – BBC News

‘Hundreds of children were sexually abused by predatory foster carers and residential home staff who were allowed to thrive, an inquiry has found. Nottingham City and Nottinghamshire County councils exposed vulnerable children to repeated rapes and physical abuse, a report said. The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse said sexualised behaviour by staff was “tolerated or overlooked”.’

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BBC News, 31st July 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk