Deputy High Court judge calls for non-means assessed legal aid for parents involved in deprivation of liberty proceedings – Local Government Lawyer

‘There is a compelling case for parents involved in deprivation of liberty proceedings to be treated the same as respondents in care proceedings when it comes to the provision of legal aid, a Deputy High Court Judge has said.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 24th October 2022

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

High Court judge approves unregistered placement for teenage girl with “nowhere else to go” – Local Government Lawyer

‘A Family Division judge has directed that a teenage girl at risk of suicide should be moved from hospital to a placement even though the latter is unregistered and the provider could be at risk of legal action by Ofsted.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 21st October 2022

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Jail for pair who exploited 13-year-old drug mule – The Independent

Posted October 24th, 2022 in children, drug offences, drug trafficking, gangs, imprisonment, news, sentencing by sally

‘A “callous” couple who exploited a 13-year-old boy to run heroin and crack cocaine from London to Kent as part of a county lines drugs operation have been jailed for a total of 12 years.’

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The Independent, 24th October 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Travel and childcare costs ‘stopping domestic abuse victims getting to court’ – The Independent

‘The cost-of-living crisis is increasingly being used as justification for domestic abuse while some victims are unable to afford to get to court to obtain protection, a charity has warned.’

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The Independent, 24th October 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Seeking Leave to Oppose the Making of an Adoption Order – Becket Chambers

Posted October 24th, 2022 in adoption, care orders, chambers articles, children, families, family courts, news by sally

‘Following the conclusion of Care proceedings and where a child has been placed for adoption, a parent may only oppose the making of an adoption order with leave of the court. A parent’s application seeking leave of the court will have two stages. Firstly, the court needs to be satisfied, on the facts, that there has been a change of circumstances within section 47(7) Adoption and Children Act 2002 (“the 2002 Act”). Secondly, if there has been such a change, the court will then need to consider the application of section 1 of the 2002 Act to the facts of the case with the paramount consideration of the court being the child’s welfare throughout their life.’

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Becket Chambers, 19th October 2022

Source: becket-chambers.co.uk

Child sex abuse: The horrific findings of a seven-year inquiry – BBC News

Posted October 21st, 2022 in child abuse, children, inquiries, news, sexual offences by tracey

‘The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual abuse was created in the wake of the Jimmy Savile scandal to examine how institutions responded to allegations of abuse in England and Wales – both in the past, and today.’

Final report

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BBC News, 20th October 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Case commentary in finding of fact hearing – By Mollie Briggs – Park Square Barristers

Posted October 20th, 2022 in care orders, children, doctors, evidence, expert witnesses, news by sally

‘The case involved a fact-finding hearing where the local authority applied for care orders in respect of two children, after the youngest child sustained significant brain injuries following a fall from the father’s arms whilst he was holding the child and picking up the older sibling.’

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Park Square Barristers, 18th October 2022

Source: www.parksquarebarristers.co.uk

East Kent hospital baby deaths: Dr Bill Kirkup review to be published – BBC News

‘An independent review launched after up to 15 babies died at a hospital trust will be published later.’

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BBC News, 19th October 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

East Kent hospital baby deaths: Harry Richford’s family’s five-year fight for justice – BBC News

Posted October 18th, 2022 in bereavement, birth, children, families, hospitals, inquests, news by sally

‘The grandfather of a baby who died at a hospital that was fined over failings in the delivery has spoken of his five-year fight for justice.’

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BBC News, 18th October 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Inquiry after Black child mauled by police dog while being detained by armed officers – The Independent

Posted October 18th, 2022 in children, dogs, inquiries, minorities, news, police by sally

‘The police watchdog is investigating after a Black child was mauled by a police dog as he was detained by armed officers.’

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The Independent, 17th October 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Payout for sex abuse survivor who says Ellesmere College failed her – BBC News

‘A sex abuse survivor has been paid a substantial sum after claiming school staff failed to protect her when she was raped by her mother’s partner.’

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BBC News, 14th October 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Judge approves unlawful placement for girl, 13, at risk of suicide – The Guardian

‘A 13-year-old girl at risk of suicide and in the care of Manchester city council has languished in hospital for more than three months due to a lack of suitable placements anywhere in the country.’

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The Guardian, 12th October 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Children’s commissioner demands ambition, not ‘tinkering’, in childcare reform – The Guardian

Posted October 12th, 2022 in children, government departments, news, school children by tracey

‘The children’s commissioner for England has poured cold water on Liz Truss’s proposal to scrap regulations governing child-to-staff ratios in nurseries, describing it as tinkering around the edges and calling instead for ambitious and transformative reform of the childcare sector.’

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The Guardian, 12th October 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Nearly 240 applications made for deprivation of liberty for children in first two months of new national court – Local Government Lawyer

‘There were 237 applications to deprive children of their liberty in the first two months of the new national deprivation of liberty (DoLs) court, the Nuffield Family Justice Observatory (NFJO) has said.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 6th October 2022

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Multi-agency safeguarding and domestic abuse paper published – Family Law

Posted October 11th, 2022 in child abuse, children, domestic violence, news, reports by tracey

‘The Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel has published a paper setting out key findings from reviews where domestic abuse featured.’

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Family Law, 10th October 2022

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

The Victims Bill Is Flawed In Protecting Children And Survivors – Each Other

Posted October 6th, 2022 in bills, children, codes of practice, crime, news, select committees, victims by sally

‘The Justice Committee has pointed out flaws of the Victims Bill in a pre-legislative report that raises significant concerns for victims of crimes and abuse across the UK. The cross-party committee noted problems in the way “victims” are defined, a lack of enforcement powers and the need for additional funding and resources for the Bill to be effective. The report was published shortly after Dame Vera Baird KC recently announced her intention to stand down as Victims’ Commissioner, following the Bill’s intention to diminish the role.’

Full Story

Each Other, 5th October 2022

Source: eachother.org.uk

Council where Logan Mwangi was murdered ‘worryingly dependent’ on agency care – The Guardian

‘A local authority involved in the care of Logan Mwangi, the five-year-old boy murdered by his mother, her partner and his stepson, spent more than £1m on agency social workers in the year the child was killed, it has emerged.’

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The Guardian, 5th October 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

HIV: How 175 British children were infected with disease – BBC News

Posted October 6th, 2022 in blood products, children, families, HIV, inquiries, news by sally

‘At least 175 children with the blood disorder haemophilia were infected with HIV in the 1980s, according to documents from the national archives seen by BBC News. Some of the families affected are giving evidence at a public inquiry into what has been called the worst treatment disaster in the history of the NHS.’

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BBC News, 6th October 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Man admits killing woman and three children in Derbyshire – The Guardian

Posted October 5th, 2022 in child abuse, children, families, homicide, murder, news, rape, sexual offences by sally

‘A man has admitted the manslaughter of a mother and three children, but pleaded not guilty to their murders and denied raping one of the child victims.’

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The Guardian, 4th October 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Rikki Neave police ‘ignored scientific evidence’ – BBC News

‘Six-year-old Rikki Neave disappeared after leaving home for school in November 1994 – his body was discovered the following day. A BBC investigation has found that police ignored scientific evidence to build a case against his mother, leaving his killer free for more than 20 years.’

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BBC News, 3rd October 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk