University conducted flawed disciplinary proceedings in removing MA student from social work over disapproval of homosexual acts: Court of Appeal – Local Government Lawyer

‘A university conducted flawed disciplinary proceedings when it removed an MA student from a social work course for fitness to practice reasons, after he expressed religions views on a public social media platform disapproving of homosexual acts.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 5th July 2019

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Christian wins appeal after being thrown off social work course – The Guardian

‘A devout Christian thrown off a university social work course after being accused of posting derogatory comments about gay and bisexual people on Facebook has won the latest round of a legal battle.’

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The Guardian, 3rd July 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Man who refused to register son’s birth loses high court case – The Guardian

‘A man who refused to register his son’s birth because he says he does not want him to be controlled by the state has lost a high court case.’

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The Guardian, 23rd June 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Social worker struck off over sex ‘contract’ – BBC News

‘A social worker found to have groomed a vulnerable 19-year-old for sex and made him sign a “relationship contract” has been struck off.’

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BBC News, 21st June 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

‘We were tortured by our own father’ – BBC News

‘Jack and Sean – not their real names – suffered severe abuse from their father for more than 15 years.’

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BBC News, 13th June 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Report: evidence of Huddersfield grooming ring not followed up – The Guardian

‘Opportunities were lost to tackle one of Britain’s largest grooming rings when information about two vulnerable girls being sexually exploited was not followed up, a review has found.’

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The Guardian, 10th June 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Judge to rule whether man’s wife has mental capacity to consent to sex – Daily Telegraph

‘A judge is set to rule whether a man can continue to sleep with his wife of more than 20 years amid concerns over her mental capacity.’

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Daily Telegraph, 1st April 2019

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Stanhope Castle school abuse claims ‘groundless’, said 1979 report – BBC News

‘Allegations of abuse at a scandal-hit school were dismissed as “groundless”, a report leaked to the BBC has shown.’

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BBC News, 2nd April 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Government backs down over ‘myth-busting’ guide on child protection – The Guardian

‘The government has withdrawn a controversial document that claims some statutory protections for vulnerable children are “myths”, after a charity launched an application for judicial review, the Guardian has learned.’

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The Guardian, 24th March 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Phillip Nicholson: ‘Chances missed’ to protect murdered man – BBC News

‘A vulnerable man who was murdered by his ex-partner and her lover could have been better protected, a review found.’

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BBC News, 14th March 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

A Brief Guide to Carrying out Capacity Assessments -39 Essex Chambers

‘This purpose of this document is to provide for social workers and those working in front-line clinical settings a brief overview of the law and principles relating to the assessment of capacity. Its focus is on (a) how to apply the MCA 2005 principles when assessing capacity; and (b) how to record your assessment, primarily in the context of health and welfare decisions.’

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39 Essex Chambers, March 2019

Source: 1f2ca7mxjow42e65q49871m1-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com

Government faces High Court action over children’s rights – BBC News

Posted February 22nd, 2019 in children, judicial review, ministers' powers and duties, news, social services by tracey

‘A children’s charity is taking High Court action against the government over its claims that some protections of children in care are “myths”. The Article 39 charity is seeking a judicial review of Department for Education guidance to local councils responsible for vulnerable children.’

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BBC News, 22nd February 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Newspapers secure summary judgment over libel claims brought by social worker – Local Government Lawyer

‘Two national newspaper groups have obtained summary judgment over libel claims brought by a former senior social worker.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 16th January 2019

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Woman ordered not to contact son spared jail for going to parents’ evening – The Guardian

‘A woman under orders not to contact her son has been spared jail for accepting an invitation to attend a parents’ evening at his London school.’

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The Guardian, 14th January 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Opinion: Why do we separate the mother and child victims of domestic abuse? – Family Law

Posted January 14th, 2019 in children, domestic violence, families, news, social services, statistics, victims by tracey

‘Domestic abuse hurts children, whether they are the direct target, or find themselves witness to warfare in their home. The latest government figures show that half of all children assessed as needing social services support are in that plight through domestic abuse – and when social workers feel a child is no longer safe at home, they can be removed into the care system. This means being taken away from their mothers – typically the victim in all this. But she’s not usually the one being violent. Most often, it’s the children’s father or stepfather who is. As rates of reported domestic abuse soar – incidents sufficiently serious to be recorded by police as crimes rose 5% between 2016 and 2017, according to the Office for National Statistics – it’s estimated by the charity Safe Lives that 130,000 children live in households with “high‑risk” domestic abuse. So why are victims investigated by social services, rather than the perpetrators who cause such physical and mental harm?’

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Family Law, 14th January 2018

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

New Acts – legislation.gov.uk

Posted December 21st, 2018 in animal cruelty, civil justice, health, housing, legislation, prisons, social services by tracey

2018 c. 34 – Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018

2018 c. 32 – Prisons (Interference with Wireless Telegraphy) Act 2018

2018 c. 31 – Health and Social Care (National Data Guardian) Act 2018

2018 c. 30 – Ivory Act 2018

2018 c. 29 – Civil Liability Act 2018

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

Sexual assault victims waiting a year for counselling, MPs say – The Guardian

Posted December 12th, 2018 in budgets, news, sexual offences, social services, victims by sally

‘Sexual assault victims are waiting up to 14 months for counselling as specialist support services struggle to cope with unprecedented demand, MPs have said.’

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The Guardian, 11th December 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Anonymisation Guidance – a curtain of secrecy? – Transparency Project

‘The President of the Family Division, Sir Andrew MacFarlane issued some guidance last week on the anonymisation of published judgments in family court cases.’

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Transparency Project, 10th December 2018

Source: www.transparencyproject.org.uk

Family Court judge raps council for “woeful” care of two young women – Local Government Lawyer

‘A Family Court judge has condemned a council’s care for two young women as “woeful” and said he was “appalled” by failures of social workers and managers.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 11th December 2018

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Speech by Rt. Hon. Sir Andrew McFarlane: Association of Lawyers for Children Conference 2018 – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted November 26th, 2018 in care orders, children, family courts, guardianship, social services, speeches, time limits by tracey

‘Speech by Rt. Hon. Sir Andrew McFarlane: Association of Lawyers for Children Conference 2018.’

Full speech

Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 23rd November 2018

Source: www.judiciary.uk