The importance of due diligence in choosing children’s residential placements – Local Government Lawyer

‘Kristine Lidgerwood aims to provoke thought and encourage thorough system checks based on recent experiences that have raised serious concerns.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 23rd October 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Unsuitable temporary accommodation and discrimination – Nearly Legal

‘Begum, R (On the Application Of) v London Borough of Tower Hamlets (2024) EWHC 2279 (Admin) – Ms Begum had applied as homeless to Tower Hamlets in 2001. She was given temporary accommodation in a studio flat. 5 months later her first child was born. In June 2022, she complained about the suitability of the studio, which at that time was still s.188 accommodation. In October 2022, Tower Hamlets accepted the full duty. An internal memo recorded that Ms B had requested a transfer due to overcrowding. By March 2023, Ms B was pregnant with her second child, with a due date in September 2023. Between May and July 2023 there was correspondence between Ms B’s solicitors and Tower Hamlets on the suitability of the accommodation. The present claim was issued and interim relief ordered in August 2023. Three days later, Tower Hamlets made an offer of accommodation which Ms B accepted.’

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Nearly Legal, 20th October 2024

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

A 40-Year Revolution in Financial Remedies – Financial Remedies Journal

‘My subject today is revolution. Don’t worry. I am not advocating a take-over of the country by Tommy Robinson or Piers Corbyn. I am talking about the fundamental transformation of financial remedy work since I undertook my first ever case on 19 July 1983 in the Edmonton County Court, just over 41 years ago.’

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Financial Remedies Journal, 16th October 2024

Source: financialremediesjournal.com

‘Obsessive’ schoolboy who attacked teacher and sleeping students with hammer jailed – The Independent

‘A public schoolboy who attacked two students and a teacher with claw hammers while they slept at a boarding school in Devon has been jailed for life with a minimum of 12 years.’

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The Independent, 19th October 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Form FM5 and MIAM’s – Becket Chambers

‘It has been a requirement for a number of years that before financial proceedings or children matters that the applicant, save for a few exemptions, is required to attend a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting [MIAM]. Often by the time parties attend their MIAM, they have reached the stage of utter frustration and have felt that the only way forward was to go to court. The MIAM for some people became a mere hurdle to be overcome so that they could go to court, it was a tick box exercise.’

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Becket Chambers, 24th September 2024

Source: becket-chambers.co.uk

Practice Direction 12J, fact find hearings and child arrangements – E, F and G (Interim Child Arrangements) [2024] EWCA Civ 874 – Becket Chambers

‘E, F and G (Interim Child Arrangements) [2024] EWCA Civ 874 was a recent appeal brought by the Mother on 2 grounds; the first in respect of a child arrangements order made for unsupervised contact and the second regarding an adjournment due to a Qualified Legal Representative (‘QLR’) not being available for the fact find hearing. This article will focus on the first ground in respect of the child arrangements order.’

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Becket Chambers, 30th September 2024

Source: becket-chambers.co.uk

Social media faces big changes under new Ofcom rules – BBC News

Posted October 17th, 2024 in children, internet, news, ombudsmen, telecommunications by sally

‘Social media companies will face punishments for failing to keep children safe on their platforms, communications watchdog Ofcom has warned.’

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BBC News, 17th October 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Practice and Procedure Report – October 2024 – 39 Essex Chambers

‘In the Practice and Procedure Report: the perfect as the enemy of the good, and what to do when the situation changes.’

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39 Essex Chambers , 1st October 2024

Source: www.39essex.com

Mental Health Matters Report – October 2024 – 39 Essex Chambers

‘In the Mental Health Matters Report: the human rights consequences of outsourcing in the mental health context.’

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39 Essex Chambers , 1st October 2024

Source: www.39essex.com

Property and Affairs Report – October 2024 – 39 Essex Chambers

‘In the Property and Affairs Report: gifts, attorneys and deputies.’

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39 Essex Chambers, 1st October 2024

Source: www.39essex.com

Government issues statutory guidance for local authorities on kinship care – Local Government Lawyer

Posted October 15th, 2024 in carers, children, families, government departments, local government, news by sally

‘The Department for Education has published statutory guidance for local authorities and their staff, setting out how councils should support children in kinship care and kinship carers.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 14th October 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Online predator who used fake profiles to talk to children jailed – Crown Prosecution Service

‘A man who used fake online profiles to talk to children and request indecent images from them has been jailed today.’

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Crown Prosecution Service, 14th October 2024

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Law Commission seeks views on disabled children’s social care law – Law Commission

‘Today the Law Commission publishes a consultation paper on disabled children’s social care law and whether it meets the needs of disabled children and their families.’

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Law Commission, 8th October 2024

Source: lawcom.gov.uk

Lucy Letby: police and CPS handling of case raises new concerns about convictions – The Guardian

‘When the public inquiry into the crimes of the former nurse Lucy Letby opened in Liverpool last month its chair, Lady Justice Thirlwall, dismissed concerns about the safety of the convictions as “noise”. The judge cautioned that questions being raised were increasing the distress of parents whose children had died or been harmed.’

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The Guardian, 10th October 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Cafcass adopts new policy to protect victims of domestic abuse in court system – Local Government Lawyer

‘Family Court Advisors and Children’s Guardians will no longer use language such as ‘claims’ or ‘alleges’ in reports to court, using instead the words of children and adults who are victims of domestic abuse, in line with a new Domestic Abuse Practice Policy published by Cafcass.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 11th October 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Children being traumatised at Gatwick deportation centre, finds watchdog – The Guardian

‘Young children are being traumatised while held at a Gatwick airport deportation centre that should be closed down, a watchdog has found.’

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The Guardian, 11th October 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Navigating grandparents’ rights on divorce or following the death of a parent – Kingsley Napley Family Law Blog

Posted October 11th, 2024 in bereavement, children, divorce, families, grandparents, news by sally

‘Grandparents have become increasingly involved in their grandchildren’s day to day lives over the last few decades, providing love, support, child care and a sounding board for frazzled parents. A number of studies have highlighted the benefit to children of having positive relationships with their grandparents and the importance of these connections is celebrated each year on Grandparents’ Day. However, as family dynamics shift over time, particularly following a divorce or bereavement, grandparent/grandchild relationships are often impacted.’

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Kingsley Napley Family Law Blog, 10th October 2024

Source: www.kingsleynapley.co.uk

More bereaved parents offered baby-loss certificate – BBC News

Posted October 9th, 2024 in bereavement, children, families, news, pregnancy by sally

‘More bereaved parents in England will now be able to apply for a certificate to formally recognise the loss of their baby.’

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BBC News, 9th October 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Law Commission launches consultation on “out of date” disabled children’s social care law – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Law Commission has today (8 October) published a consultation paper on disabled children’s social care law, as part of a review to ensure it is fairer, simpler and more up to date.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 8th October 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Ban on advertising junk food before 9pm resurrected in the UK – OUT-LAW.com

Posted October 8th, 2024 in advertising, children, food, health, media, news, regulations by sally

‘Restrictions on advertising “less heathy” food and drink on TV and online will start to apply across the UK from 1 October 2025. However, despite a recent government response confirming the draft implementation regulations, important details are still lacking for food suppliers and media companies to prepare properly for the upcoming changes, according to legal experts.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 7th October 2024

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com