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(Doc) The introduction of “Children First the Northern Ireland Childcare Strategy” April 2002. Child Care Plan In 1999 requires each of the 4 Child Care Partnerships in Northern Ireland to prepare a 3 year Child Care Plan which sets out how the Partnership will plan and deliver childcare services. This Child Care Plan covers the period from 1st April 2002 to 31st March 2005.
The Plan will be reviewed on an annual basis during the 3 years of its life span. The Plan puts the work of the Child Care Partnership into the context of current childcare needs within the Western Board area and sets targets for the development of services.

(Doc) April 2002: Sperrin Lakeland Trust Care Plan: / Western Area Health Trust: This is the third Children’s Services Plan developed by the Western Area Children and Young People's Committee. It sets out the main issues affecting children and young people regarded as vulnerable or in need and the key result areas which the Plan seeks to address.
The planning process has drawn together a wide range of knowledge, skill and expertise from the voluntary, community and statutory sectors, and has gained from increasing consultation with children, young people and their parents about what makes a difference to them.


(Doc) Multi-Disciplinary (DOH, 2000)Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families. Social Workers Reports are supposed to be written using this information. On the Social Workers report under the heading Basis for Report you will see that the report has been written under these guidelines, this is a questionable statement given that this document was three years in the making and is huge. Department of Health Department for Education and Employment Home Office. The Social Care Group is one of four business groups in the Department of Health. It is jointly headed by the Chief Social Services Inspector and the Head of Social Care Policy. It supports Ministers in promoting high quality, cost effective services through national policies
support to external social care agencies
inspection
The Social Services Inspectorate is a part of the Social Care Group. It is headed by the Chief Social Services Inspector who is the principal professional advisor to Ministers on social services and related matters.


(Doc) Guidance Notes and Glossary for: Referral and Initial Information Record,
Initial Assessment Record and Core Assessment Record Department of Health Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families
Guidance Notes and Glossary for:
Referral and Initial Information Record, Initial Assessment Record and Core Assessment Records

(Doc) Assessing Children in Need and their Families: Practice Guidance Department of Health. The Social Care Group is one of the four business groups in the Department of Health. It is jointly headed by the Chief Social Services Inspector and the Head of Social Care Policy.
It supports Ministers in promoting high quality, cost effective services through national policies support to external social care agencies inspection
The Social Services Inspectorate is a part of the Social Care Group. It is headed by the Chief Social Services Inspector who is the principal professional advisor to Ministers on social services and related matters.




Social Worker Questionnaire Forms: Assessment Record.


(Doc) (DOH, 2000)Social Worker Questionnaire Forms: Core Assessment Record: Referral and initial information Record SSD Case Numbers Date referral received Is the parent/carer aware of the referral?
Yes n
No n
Re-Referral n

(Doc) (DOH, 2000)Social Worker Questionnaire Forms: Core Assessment Record: Initial Assessment
In completing this initial assessment, if it is known a core assessment will be required, social work staff should make a professional judgement about whether it is necessary to complete all sections before beginning a Core Assessment.
The Government’s Objectives for Children’s Social Services (1999) requires an initial assessment to be completed within 7 working days.


(Doc) Bracknell Forest ACPC – Multi-agency Pre-birth Protocol – Final Document – July 2005 1 MULTI-AGENCY PRE-BIRTH PROTOCOL Research and experience indicate that very young babies are extremely vulnerable to abuse and that work carried out in the antenatal period to assess risk and to plan intervention will help to minimise harm.
Antenatal assessment is a valuable opportunity to develop a proactive multi-agency approach to families where there is an identified risk of harm.
The aim is to provide support for families, to identify and protect vulnerable children and to plan effective care programmes, recognising the long-term benefits of early intervention for the welfare of the child.
This protocol is written with the objective of having a shared understanding of what causes harm to young babies and a consistent approach to assessment in the antenatal and early postnatal stages.

(Doc)(DOH, 2000)Social Worker Questionnaire Forms: Core Assessment Record: The Family Pack of Questionnaires and Scales Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families.
A Cox and A Bentovim Department of Health The Family Pack of Questionnaires and Scales A Cox and A Bentovim.

(Doc) (DOH, 2000)Social Worker Questionnaire Forms: Core Assessment Record: Child aged 0–2 years. Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families

(Doc)(DOH, 2000) Social Worker Questionnaire Forms: Core Assessment Record: Family Activity Child aged 2–6 years

(Doc) (DOH, 2000)Social Worker Questionnaire Forms: Core Assessment Record: Child aged 5–9 years Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families

(Doc)(DOH, 2000) Social Worker Questionnaire Forms: Core Assessment Record: Child aged 10–14 years Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families

(Doc) (DOH, 2000)Social Worker Questionnaire Forms: Core Assessment Record: Young person aged 15 years and over Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families

(Doc) (DOH, 2000)Social Worker Questionnaire Forms: Core Assessment Record: Strengths and Difficulties.

(Doc)(DOH, 2000)Social Worker Questionnaire Forms: Core Assessment Record: Parenting Daily Hassles Scale The statements below describe a lot of events that routinely occur in families with young children. These events sometimes make life difficult.
Please read each item and circle how often it happens to you (rarely, sometimes, a lot, or constantly) and then circle.

(Doc)(DOH, 2000)Social Worker Questionnaire Forms: Core Assessment Record: Home Conditions. 11. It will usually be unhelpful to share all that has been observed with the caregiver. This could upset the establishment of partnership a good working relationship is of overriding importance.
However the worker needs to have a clear picture of the environment from the child’s point of view.
12. Individual items can be a focus for a piece of work. This might be to encourage the parent to attend to something that could pose a health risk to the children, or to bring in additional support where the parent is unlikely to be able to improve matters unassisted.

(Doc)(DOH, 2000) Social Worker Questionnaire Forms: Adult Wellbeing The Scale.

(Doc) (DOH, 2000)Social Worker Questionnaire Forms: Alcohol Use:

(Doc) (DOH, 2000)Social Worker Questionnaire Forms: Core Assessment Record Recent Life Events.





House of Commons debates.



(Doc) 2 March 2006 What are Commons debates? Orders of the Day — Children and Adoption Bill
Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar, Conservative) Hansard source

I am grateful for the opportunity to make a modest contribution to the debate. It is a particular pleasure to follow the hon. and learned Member for Redcar (Vera Baird). I hope she will forgive me if I do not pursue some of her excellent points, as I want to concentrate on a narrower aspect of the Bill, namely adoption. I want to say something about the secrecy of the family court. I think that some of the general rules on adoption concerning foreign nations are relevant to our own system. A particularly sad case in which I have been involved over the last few months has a direct bearing on how adoption works in practice, especially forced adoption, the most extreme of the many issues that we must consider.





(Doc) EDM 869 WORKING OF THE CHILDREN ACT 2004.
26.10.2005 Eric Picles Speaks in the House Of Commons.
That this House urges the Government to remove the veil of secrecy from the workings of the Children Act 2004; considers that the closed door policy of the family courts breeds suspicion and a culture of secrecy which does nothing to instil confidence in those using them, which affects not just the courts but the social services departments of local authorities; and believes that it is possible to preserve the anonymity of children involved in the proceedings without the cumbersome rules which obstruct parents from receiving advice and support, which in particular works to the disadvantage of parents with special learning difficulty.

"I don't think the public appreciates how low the threshold is. When children are taken from their parents, it is not because there is a certainty of future harm or even that, on the balance of probabilities, those children could be harmed.
It is enough that there will be a possibility of future harm. If there is a 70 per cent. risk of a child being harmed and every child with that risk was taken into care then, in 100 such cases, 30 children would be taken from families where they would come to no harm.
Sometimes, I wonder whether children are being protected, or whether it is social workers' careers."

Those are wise words. There may be a temptation for local authorities, possibly because of the financial advantage, to move towards adoption when other solutions may be possible.
Mr. Scott goes on to say:
"There's an unspoken fear that children from poor backgrounds are being freed up for middle-class adopters."







Family Division Court Dates and Judgements.



Foyle Health and Social Services Trust v LM (01 April 04) Justice McLaughlin

[2] The application in these proceedings is for Care Orders in respect of the children L1 and L2 pursuant to Article 50 of the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 which provides as follows:-
"50(1)
(2) A court may only make a care or a supervision order if it is satisfied –
(a) that the child concerned is suffering, or is likely to suffer, significant harm; and
(b) that the harm, or likelihood of harm, is attributable to –
(i) the care given to the child, or likely to be given to him if the order were not made,
not being what it would be reasonable to expect a parent to give to him.
The burden of proof
[4] In this, as in most civil cases the general rule is that "he who asserts must prove". It is for the applicant Trust in this case to establish all the pre-conditions and other facts entitling it to the order sought. This was reaffirmed by Lord Nicholls in Re H & R (Child Sex Abuse: Standard of Proof) [1996] 1 FLR 80. At page 95E he stated the following:
"The power of the court to make a care or supervision order only arises if the court is 'satisfied' that the criteria stated in Section 31(2) exist. The expression 'if the court is satisfied', here and elsewhere in the Act, envisages that the court must be judicially satisfied on proper material. There is also inherent in the expression an indication of the need for the subject matter to be affirmatively proved. If the court is left in a state of indecision the matter has not been established to the level, or standard, needed for the court to be 'satisfied'. Thus in Section 31(2), in order for the threshold to be crossed, the conditions set out in paras (a) and (b) must be affirmatively established to the satisfaction of the court."
Section 31(2) of the Children Order 1989 and Article 50(2) of the Children (NI) Order 1995 are in identical terms.
The standard of proof
[5] This matter was also considered in Re H & R. In that case the local authority had failed to establish allegations of sex abuse of the child, who was the subject of the application, by her mother's partner. This followed his acquittal in the Crown Court on charges arising out of the same allegations. The court therefore was obliged to proceed on the basis that the child had not suffered significant harm in the past. In that case the core question, upon which the House divided by 3:2 was the approach to be adopted in respect of future risk, ie. whether or not unproven allegations of mal-treatment could form the basis for a finding by the court that either limb of Section 31(2)(a) was established. Lord Nicholls of Birkenhead stated the following at pages 95H-97C: The standard of proof. Where the matters in issue are facts the standard of proof required in non-criminal proceedings is the preponderance of probability, usually referred to as the balance of probability. This is the established general principle. There are exceptions such as contempt of court applications, but I can see no reason for thinking that family proceedings are, or should be, an exception. By family proceedings I mean proceedings so described in the 1989 Act, ss 105 and 8(3). Despite their special features, family proceedings remain essentially a form of civil proceedings. Family proceedings often raise very serious issues, but so do other forms of civil proceedings.
The balance of probability standard means that a court is satisfied an event occurred if the court considers that, on the evidence, the occurrence of the event was more likely than not. When assessing the probabilities the court will have in mind as a factor, to whatever extent is appropriate in the particular case, that the more serious the allegation the less likely it is that the event occurred and, hence, the stronger should be the evidence before the court concludes that the allegation is established on the balance of probability. Fraud is usually less likely than negligence. Deliberate physical injury is usually less likely than accidental physical injury.
A stepfather is usually less likely to have repeatedly raped and had non-consensual oral sex with his under-age stepdaughter than on some occasion to have lost his temper and slapped her. Built into the preponderance of probability standard is a serious degree of flexibility in respect of the seriousness of the allegation. Although the result is much the same, this does not mean that where a serious allegation is in issue the standard of proof required is higher.
It means only that the inherent probability or improbability of an event is itself a matter to be taken into account when weighing the probabilities and deciding whether, on balance, the event occurred. The more improbable the event, the stronger must be the evidence that it did occur before, on the balance of probability, its occurrence will be established. Ungoed-Thomas J expressed this neatly in Re Dellow's Will Trusts, Lloyd's Bank v Institute of Cancer Research [1964] 1 WLR 451 at p 455:
The more serious the allegation the more cogent is the evidence required to overcome the unlikelihood of what is alleged and thus to prove it.
This substantially accords with the approach adopted in authorities such as the well-known judgment of Morris LJ in Hornal v Neuberger Products Ltd [1957] 1 QB 247 at p 266.
This approach also provides a means by which the balance of probability standard can accommodate one's instinctive feeling that even in civil proceedings a court should be more sure before finding serious allegations proved than when deciding less serious or trivial matters.
No doubt it is this feeling which prompts judicial comment from time to time that grave issues call for proof to a standard higher than the preponderance of probability. Similar suggestions have been made recently regarding proof of allegations of sexual abuse of children: see Re G (No 2) (A Minor) (Child Abuse: Evidence) [1988] 1 FLR 314 at p 321, and Re W (Minors) (Sexual Abuse: Standard of Proof) [1994] 1 FLR 419 at p 429.
So I must pursue this a little further. The law looks for probability, not certainty. Certainty is seldom attainable. But probability is an unsatisfactorily vague criterion because there are degrees of probability. In establishing principles regarding the standard of proof, therefore, the law seeks to define the degree of probability appropriate for different types of proceedings
. Proof beyond reasonable doubt, in whatever form of words expressed, is one standard. Proof on a preponderance of probability is another, a lower standard having the in-built flexibility already mentioned. If the balance of probability standard were departed from, and a third standard were substituted in some civil cases, it would be necessary to identify what the standard is and when it would apply. Herein lies a difficulty.
If the standard were to be higher than the balance of probability but lower than the criminal standard of proof beyond reasonable doubt, what would it be? The only alternative which suggests itself is that the standard should be commensurate with the gravity of the allegation and the seriousness of the consequences. A formula to this effect has its attraction.
But I doubt whether in practice it would add much to the present test in civil cases, and it would risk causing confusion and uncertainty. As at present advised I think it is better to stick to the existing, established law on this subject. I can see no compelling need for a change.
I therefore agree with the recent decisions of the Court of Appeal in several cases involving the care of children, to the effect that the standard of proof is the ordinary civil standard of balance of probability.
[6] He made clear that there should be no difficulty in applying the standard when considering the first limb of Article 50(2)(a) because it deals with an existing state of affairs, namely, that the child is suffering significant harm. He described the relevant time for the purposes of that consideration and made clear that whether the child was suffering significant harm is to be decided by the court "On the basis of the facts admitted or proved before it.
The balance of probabilities standard applies to proof of the facts". In dealing with the second limb, namely the risk of significant harm arising in the future he stated:
The same approach applies to the second limb of Section 31(2)(a). This is concerned with evaluating the risk of something happening in the future: aye or no, is there a real possibility that the child will suffer significant harm?
Having heard and considered the evidence and decided any disputed questions of relevant fact upon the balance of probability,
the court must reach a decision on how highly it evaluates the risk of significant harm befalling the child, always remembering upon whom the burden of proof rests.





(Doc) Family Division Court Northern Ireland - RE: (Care Order: Freeing Order: Parents with a learning Disability) Justice Gillen.

The Trust case however was that once G was born, Mr and Mrs X's attitude was that they did not need professionals in their lives.
Difficulties with regards to their cooperation and ability to take advice, in the opinion of the Trust, placed G in a situation where her needs were not being adequately met and an Emergency Protection Order was sought and granted on 12 December 2004 with subsequent Interim Care Orders with G being placed in foster care.





(Doc) Family Division Court Northern Ireland - RE: (Residence Order) (11 October 2005) Justice McLaughlin

The Legal Authorities and Guiding Principles
[25]The applications of each party for a residence order fall to be determined in accordance with the Children (NI) Order 1995.

Jurisdiction to make such an order is found in Article 8 and such proceedings are subject to overall consideration of the child's welfare.
Article 3 requires the court when determining any question with respect to the upbringing of a child to have regard to the principle that the child's welfare "shall be the court's paramount consideration".
The classic dictum of Lord MacDermott in the case of J v C [1969] 1 All ER 788 at 820-821 remain of continuing relevance and importance even in the light of the many radical changes brought about by the 1995 Order.
In that case he stated that the requirement to treat the child's interests as paramount "connotes a process whereby, when all the relevant facts, relationships, claims and wishes of parents, risks, choices and other circumstances are taken into account and weighed, the course to be followed will be that which is most in the interests of child's welfare as that term is now understood.
That is the first consideration because it is of first importance and the paramount consideration because it rules on and determines the course to be followed".

[26]Further by Article 3(3) and (4) the court is directed, when considering whether to make an Article 8 Order, to have regard in particular to certain factors.
These factors are now referred to as the welfare check list and are in the following terms:
(a) The ascertainable wishes and feelings of the child concerned (considered in the light of his age and understanding);
(b) His physical, emotional and educational needs;
(c) The likely effect on him of any change in his circumstances;
(d) His age, sex, background and any characteristics of his which the court considers relevant;
(e) Any harm which he has suffered or is at risk of suffering;
(f) How capable of meeting his needs is each of parents and any other person in relation to whom the court considers the question to be relevant;
(g) The range of powers available to the court under this order in the proceedings in question.
These issues must be considered in every case and the importance of each will vary from case to case. I do not consider it necessary to go through each of the elements of the checklist seriatim, instead, having considered this matter, I believe I must find, inter alia, the answers to the following critical questions.



(Doc) Family Division Court Northern Ireland - RE: (HOMEFIRST COMMUNITY HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES TRUST) (11.05.2001)Justice Higgins
Article 10 of the Adoption Agency Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1989 states –
10.-(1)Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), an adoption panel shall consider the case of every child, prospective adopter and proposed placement referred to it by the adoption agency and shall make one or more of the recommendations to the agency, as the case may be, as to –
(a) whether adoption is in the best interests of a child and, if the panel recommends that it is, whether an application under Article 17 or 18 (freeing child for adoption with or without parental agreement) should be made to free the child for adoption." There is no requirement in the Regulations that the children be in the care of the Trust prior to referral of the children to the Adoption Panel.

These children have now been accommodated since June/July 1999. No attempt has been made to remove them and the mother appears content with their present placements.
Initially she did not co-operate with the Trust but more recently has agreed to, it is said, because the interim care orders are in force.
The children have been in voluntary accommodation for nearly two years. If rehabilitation with their mother is not a realistic option then plans have to be made for their future and it is appropriate that the Trust do so. Care proceedings have now been issued with that principle in mind, and it might be said, not before time.

When care proceedings come before the court they can be heard immediately, if ready to proceed.
More often they are adjourned for a directions hearing and the fixing of a date for trial.
It is not essential that an interim care order be made. Is one necessary in this case on the ground put forward by the Trust.
An interim care order is not a necessary prerequisite before a referral of the children to the Adoption Panel can be made. In those circumstances it would be wrong for a court to make an interim care order on that basis or on the basis that the Trusts' social workers believe interim care orders are required or that the Trust would prefer to have interim care orders in place when the children are referred to the Adoption Panel can be made.
Therefore I decline to make interim care orders on the main submission put forward by the Trust.

The effect of an interim care order is to order that the designated authority receive the child into its care – see Article 52(1). By Article 53(3) the designated shall have parental responsibility for the child and have the power, where necessary to safeguard or promote the child's welfare, to determine the extent to which the parent may meet his parental responsibility for the child – see also Article 53(4).
Article 6 defines parental responsibility as all the rights, duties, powers, responsibilities and authority which by law a parent of a child has in relation to the child and his property.
I have considered carefully whether there is some advantage to the children's welfare to be gained, in the particular and unusual circumstances of this case, from having interim care orders in force or any necessity for them.
I can find no such advantage or necessity nor has any been indicated to me. I therefore decline to make interim care orders in respect of these children. The mother and the Guardian Ad Litem have expressed the view that the Trust's plan for permanent arrangements are premature. That issue is for another day.




(Doc)Family Division Court Northern Ireland - RE: (Allocation Of Proceedings (13 March 2002) Justice Gillen

"I came to the conclusion that the grave issues in this case had been identified and are being dealt with. I decided that the Trust was dealing with this case in accordance with the care plan and accidental injury was being investigated and that the care plan should continue as drafted and this case should be dealt with in the Family Proceedings Court before Mr Nixon. Bearing in mind the hearing volume of cases with which the court has to deal I made an ICO for both children until 8 February and sent this case to Craigavon FPC for the attention of Mr Nixon RM."
Transfer from a Family Proceedings Court to a Family Care Centre. 5(1) Subject to paragraph (2) and to Articles 6 and 7 a Family Proceedings Court shall, upon application by a party or of its own motion, transfer to a Family Care Centre proceedings of a kind mentioned in Article 3(1) where it considers that the proceedings are exceptionally grave, important or complex in particular –

(a) because of complicated or conflicting evidence about the child's physical or moral well-being or about other matters relating to the child's welfare;
(b) because of the numbers of parties;
(c) because of a conflict of law with another jurisdiction;
(d) because of some novel or difficult point of law; or
(e) because of some question of general public interest.
(2) The court shall only transfer proceedings in accordance with paragraph (1) where, having had regard to the principles set out in Article 3(2) of the 1995 Order, it considers it in the interests of the child to do so."
Transfer from a Family Care Centre to the High Court 10. Where proceedings have been transferred to a Family Care Centre under Article 5 or 8 the court shall transfer the proceedings to the High Court where, having had regard to the principles set out in Article 3(2) of the 1995 Order, it considers that the proceedings are appropriate for determination in the High Court and that such determination would be in the interests of the child.

Transfer from a Family Care Centre to a Family Proceedings Court or other court of summary jurisdiction. 12-(1) Subject to paragraph (3) a Family Care Centre shall transfer to a Family Proceedings Court before trial, proceedings which were transferred by that court under Article 5 where it considers that the criterion cited by the court as the reason for transfer does not apply.

(2) Subject to paragraph (3) a Family Care Centre shall transfer to a court of summary jurisdiction, before trial, proceedings which were transferred by that court under Article 8, where it considers that the criterion cited by the court as the reason for transfer does not apply.

(3) A Family Care Centre shall only transfer proceedings in accordance with paragraphs (1) or (2) where, having regard to the principles set out in Article 3(2) of the 1995 Order, it considers it in the interests of the child to do so.

Contravention of this Order. 16. Where proceedings are commenced or transferred in contravention of a provision of this order, the contravention shall not have the effect of making the proceedings invalid; and no appeal shall lie against the determination of proceedings on the basis of such contravention alone.





(Doc) Family Division Court Northern Ireland - RE: (DOWN LISBURN HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES TRUST) Justice Weir

[2] The applicant ("the Trust") applies for a Care Order pursuant to Article 50 of the Children (NI) Order 1995 ("the Order") in respect of C. B is the father of C and S is the mother. K, a man who was living with S when injuries to C were discovered, was given leave to intervene in the proceedings. At the hearing the Trust, the Guardian ad Litem ("GAL"), B, S and K were all separately represented by counsel.

Conclusion
[18] I have been greatly assisted by the realistic and cooperative approach of all counsel. In the first place it was agreed that the relevant date for the assessment of the first limb of the test namely "that the child concerned is suffering, or is likely to suffer significant harm" was 23rd February 2006 when the date of the initiation of protection measures, namely the Emergency Protection Order obtained by the police.
Counsel also agreed that at that date the child was suffering "significant harm".
[19]Moving to the second limb, whether "the harm is attributable to the care given to the child not being what it would be reasonable to expect a parent to give to him"?
In relation to this limb I am satisfied on the balance of probabilities that K caused serious injuries including head injuries to C and, for the reasons earlier discussed, I cannot exclude the possibility that S may also have caused some of the injuries though I regard that as less likely. I am also satisfied that both K and S failed to afford C the protection which it would have been reasonable to afford him.
[20] Accordingly I am satisfied that the criteria required by Article 50(2)(a) and (b) of the Order have been established.





(Doc) Family Division Court Northern Ireland - RE: (Trust Application) (6th October, 2000) Justice Higgins

5. Parental responsibility is defined in Article 6.
6(1) In this Order “parental responsibility” means all the rights, duties, powers, responsibilities and authority which by law a parent of a child has in relation to the child and his property.

6. E is the subject of an interim care order. When a care order or an interim care order is in force, the authority designated by the order (the Trust) has parental responsibility for the child.
The designated authority or Trust also has the power to determine the extent to which a parent of a child may meet his parental responsibility for that child.

1. This is an application by VB for a parental responsibility order in respect of EF (E) who was born on 18 March 1999. VB and the child’s mother KF are not married. KF is 20 years of age and has a much troubled background. She is presently detained in hospital, not for the first time, under the Mental Health (Northern Ireland) Order 1986.
The mother’s objection is a significant contra factor.
She knows the applicant intimately and, malice apart, her views carry substantial weight.
The applicant wishes to oppose the adoption. Without parental responsibility he can still ask to be joined as a party and, even if not so joined, the court must consider his objection to the freeing for adoption proceedings and he would be entitled to ask the court not to grant an Article 18 order, but to consider granting him a Residence Order.
It is a fact there is no attachment between the applicant and E and that is relevant as are the reasons for that. A degree of commitment is present and it is not an insignificant commitment. However, E is in care and has been for some time;
the Trust plan is for adoption (though that will be tested);
the applicant has two other children with whom he has no contact; he is now in another relationship with a new partner and neither of them has a home; the child’s mother objects and her reasons are his lifestyle and criminal convictions.
When I consider his degree of commitment and his reasons for applying for parental responsibility, together with the various other factors I have mentioned above, I am not persuaded that this is an appropriate case in which to grant the applicant parental responsibility and I refuse the order sought.



(Doc) Family Division Court Northern Ireland - RE: (IN THE MATTER OF E AND M (ARTICLE 53(2) APPLICATION BY TRUST TO REDUCE CONTACT: CARE PLAN: LONG TERM FOSTER CARE)(14/12/06) Master Wells

[2] This is an application brought by North and West Belfast H&SS Trust (hereinafter called 'the Trust') to vary contact pursuant to Article 53(2) of The Children (NI) Order 1995 (hereinafter called 'the Order'). The C1 application was filed on 2 August 2005.

[3] E is aged 11 years 11 months and M is aged 10 years and 1 month. They were initially placed in care on 15 January 1998 and were both made the subject of full Care Orders before Belfast Family Proceedings Court on 2 March 1998.

The Trust after assessment having decided against reunification to birth parents, made application on 25 January 1999 to seek orders to free the children for adoption.
These applications were refused by Higgins J on 2 February 2001 – see judgment Ref: HIGF3274.
At the conclusion of this hearing the Judge made a Contact Order (Article 53) allowing the parents to have contact with the children for a period of two hours once per week. Consideration was to be given to the introduction of unsupervised contact, particularly for the father (MS).

[4] The Trust subsequently made an application to vary the contact arrangements in respect of the father whilst he was in prison, and on 18 June 2001 Higgins J varied the Contact Order, ordering that direct contact between the children and their father be suspended whilst he was in prison and that he should have 'indirect telephone contact' only, once per week, each Friday between 2.30pm and 3.00pm.

[5] The children have experienced significant placement changes since they were initially placed in care – the Guardian ad litem's report states that E has experienced 8 foster placements along with a number of respite placements, and is presently in a Children's Home awaiting a specialist foster placement. The Guardian further reports that M has experienced 8 foster placements and a number of respite placements. His current carers have been assessed as permanent long term foster carers and for him it is hoped that this placement shall sustain throughout his childhood.

E and M initially resided in the same foster placement but in 2002 the shared placement broke down and E was placed separately.

[6] Each child has been assessed as having special needs. E has been diagnosed as suffering from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD); she also has a Severe Attachment Disorder. E is under the care of Dr Richard Wilson, Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, and she is in receipt of medication for her medical condition.

M has been diagnosed as suffering from Aspergers Syndrome, but is not in receipt of medication. He attends mainstream primary school and is now in P5.
He has been under the care of Dr Christine Lavery. MS is concerned that he has not received information from the Trust regarding M's condition and that the condition may have implications for contact.

MS stated that he was only made aware that his son suffered from Aspergers Syndrome when Sally Wassell, expert witness, was observing contact on 13 July 2006, and she suggested to MS that he should not seek to hug or lift M to offer him comfort or affection. The Trust's C1 application filed on 2 August 2005 refers to each child's health.

When Mrs Lesley Anne Parks, Senior Practitioner gave her evidence she indicated that in early 2005 – after some lengthy assessments – M was first diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome, and that she had advised MS of this during a prison vision in February 2005.

[7] The Trust is seeking an order to vary the Contact Order made on 2 February 2001 to reduce the frequency of contact. The current duration of contact is 1hr 30 mins per week between the children and their parents together; E also has weekly phone contact with her father.
The parents have been separated for some considerable time. The Trust proposes to allow each parent separate contact with the children due to hostilities which can arise between the estranged parents during contact sessions.
The Trust further proposes to change the venue for contact, and to allow the contact to be activity based, albeit loosely supervised. The Trust's proposal for direct contact is on a 5 weekly cycle.





(Doc) Family Division Court Northern Ireland - RE: (IN THE MATTER OF AN APPEAL FROM THE FAMILY CARE CENTRE) (29 May 2003) Justice Gillen

This matter is an appeal from His Honour Judge Lockie sitting in the Family Care Centre in the County Court for the Division of Belfast.
The appeal arises out of a long-running case involving applications under Article 8 of the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 by paternal grandparents seeking contact with three children namely E born on 7 August 1995, E1 born on 26 July 1997 and A born on 17 August 1998.
The background to this case is that the mother and father of the children, having married on 24 June 1994, separated in April 1999. Thereafter acrimonious proceedings ensued with various applications for contact by the father and the paternal grandparents.
In the course of those proceedings the mother had made allegations that the grandfather had physically or sexually abused the children and in particular E1.
A lengthy hearing in the course of 2002 ensued to determine the truth of these allegations and in the course of a judgment given by Judge Lockie on 21 March 2002 he rejected the allegations concluding, inter alia, that the mother had been instrumental in keeping the issue in the mind of her children especially in relation to E1.
He found that the mother had failed to convince him on the balance of probabilities that E1 had been sexually abused by the grandfather. Accordingly he considered that immediate indirect contact would take place between the children and the grandparents with the exchange of letters, cards and presents.
The progression towards other indirect and later direct contact was to depend upon the professional judgment of the social workers.

[4] The judge proceeded to make a series of directions concerning the nature of the contact that was to ensue and in particular, at direction 3, the following appeared in the court order:

"The court grants leave for an expert to be engaged.
The following documents can be disclosed to the expert – Judge Lockie's judgment, all social worker reports and Dr Swan's report.
A joint letter of instruction is to be sent to the expert detailing what is required of them, documents to be disclosed and liberty to see further documents".
It was agreed by counsel on behalf of all the parties who appeared in front of me that the directions ought to have included the following additional sentence:
"It is agreed that the issues of sexual abuse will not be reopened with the expert".
[5] The mother now appeals against that direction. The appeal was drafted in the following terms:-
"Under Article 166(1)(b) of the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 against the decision His Honour Judge Lockie QC on 7 March 2003 at Belfast Family Care Centre when he made an interim order directing that a psychologist prepare a report in order to suggest ways to progress direct contact between the children and the first-named respondents and further that the allegations of sexual abuse should not be looked at as part of this assessment or in any further court proceedings."

Six grounds of appeal were thereafter set out as follows:
"(1) That the learned judge erred in law in that he failed to pay any radical attention to the fresh sexual abuse allegations made by the children against the first-named respondents.

(2) That the learned judge erred in law in that he failed to permit the fresh sexual abuse allegations made by the children to be taken into consideration when determining the issue of contact between the first-named respondents and the children.

(3) That the learned judge erred in law in that he failed to apply the welfare checklists and to give effect to the paramountcy of the interests of the children.

(4) That the learned judge erred in law in that he failed to take into consideration as to whether the direct contact between the children and the first-named respondents is in the best interests of the children in light of these fresh allegations.

(5) That the learned judge erred in law in that he failed to permit Dr Alice Swan or some other appropriate expert to consider the issue of the sexual abuse allegations and to prepare a report on the basis of same.

(6) That the learned judge made a decision that should not have been reasonably made".





Family Division Court Northern Ireland - RE: (E and M (Applications to Free for Adoption)(02.02.2001) Justice Higgins

These are applications to free for adoption without parental agreement the two children of Mrs McA and Mr S who have never married. E was born on 5 December 1994 and M was born on 22 October 1996.
The applicants are North and West Belfast Health and Social Services Trust who apply for the Court to dispense with the agreement of Mrs McA and Mr S to the adoption of their children on the ground that their agreement is unreasonably withheld.
The Adoption (NI) Order 1987 (the Adoption Order) has been amended in several important respects and new Articles or paragraphs substituted by Schedule 9 to the Children (NI) Order 1995 (the Children Order). In this judgment the Adoption Order is referred to in its amended or substituted form.

Article 18 of the Adoption (NI) Order 1987 states:
"18.-(1)Where, on an application by an adoption agency, an authorised court is satisfied in the case of each parent or guardian of a child, that his agreement to the making of an adoption order should be dispensed with on a ground specified in Article 16(2)
the court shall make an order declaring the child free for adoption.
(2) No application shall be made under paragraph (1) unless -
(a) the child is in the care of the adoption agency; and
(b) the child is already placed for adoption or the court is satisfied that it is likely that the child will be placed for adoption.
(2A) For the purposes of paragraph (2) a child is in the care of an adoption agency if the adoption agency is a Board or HSS Trust and he is in its care.
(3) Paragraphs (3) and (5) to (7) of Article 17 shall apply to an order made by a court under paragraph (1) as they apply to an order made by a court under Article 17(1)." Article 17(3) of the Adoption (NI) Order states:
"On the making of an order under paragraph (1), parental responsibility for the child is given to the adoption agency, and paragraphs (2) to (4) of Article 12 shall apply as if the order were an adoption order and the agency were the adopters.





Judgements. Justice Munby. Baroness Hale of Richmond. European Court of Human Rights

(Doc) Judgments - Down Lisburn Health and Social Services Trust and another (AP) (Respondents) v. H (AP) and another (AP) (Appellants) (Northern Ireland) HOUSE OF LORDS SESSION 2005-06 [2006] UKHL 36 on appeal from [2005] NICA 47 Baroness Hale of Richmond. My Lords, There is, so far as the parties to this case are aware, no European jurisprudence questioning the principle of freeing for adoption, or indeed compulsory adoption generally. The United Kingdom is unusual amongst members of the Council of Europe in permitting the total severance of family ties without parental consent. (Professor Triseliotis thought that only Portugal and perhaps one other European country allowed this.) It is, of course, the most draconian interference with family life possible.

(Doc) IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE FAMILY DIVISION PRINCIPAL REGISTRY And in the Matter of the Children Act 1989 19 March 2004
The Honourable Mr Justice Munby


(In Public)
Royal Courts of Justice
Strand,
London,
WC2A 2LL
Date: 19 March 2004
KENT COUNTY COUNCIL
1. A mother who claims to be the victim of a miscarriage of justice in care proceedings brought by a local authority seeks to debate her case in public.The Honourable Mr Justice Munby
The question is whether the law permits her to do so.
The issue is one of great importance, which is why I am giving this judgment in public.
The setting

2. On 29 January 2003 the Criminal Division of the Court of Appeal (Kay LJ, Holland and Hallett JJ) quashed the conviction of Sally Clark: R v Sally Clark [2003] EWCA Crim 1020.
She had been convicted at Chester Crown Court on 9 November 1999 of the murder of her two sons by, in the one case, smothering and, in the other, suffocation.
Amongst the experts called at her trial by the Crown was Professor Sir Roy Meadow.
An earlier appeal had been dismissed by the Court of Appeal (Henry LJ, Bracewell and Richards JJ) on 2 October 2000: R v Sally Clark [2000] EWCA Crim 54.

3. On 11 June 2003 Trupti Patel was acquitted by a jury at Reading Crown Court of the murder of her three children by suffocation. Amongst the experts called at her trial by the Crown was Sir Roy Meadow.



(Doc) IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE QUEENS BENCH DIVISION ADMINISTRATIVE COURT
In the matter of unborn baby M R (on the application of X and Y)
15th April 2003
Claimant - and - GLOUCESTERSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL Defendant
Royal Courts of Justice Strand,
London,
WC2A 2LL
THE HONOURABLE MR JUSTICE MUNBY

i) The fact that I would in any event have dismissed this application for judicial review on the merits does not, of course, mean that the local authority will necessarily succeed in the Family Proceedings Court. It may. It may not. The issue for the Family Proceedings Court (or the Family Division) will be quite different from the issue that alone concerned the Administrative Court.

ii) At the risk of unnecessary repetition I emphasise that the removal of a child from his mother at or shortly after birth is a draconian and extremely harsh measure which demands "extraordinarily compelling" justification. The fullest possible information must be given to the court. The evidence in support of the application for such an order must be full, detailed, precise and compelling.
Unparticularised generalities will not suffice. The sources of hearsay evidence must be identified. Expressions of opinion must be supported by detailed evidence and properly articulated reasoning.

iii) Save in wholly exceptional cases parents must be given adequate prior notice of the date, time and place of any application by a local authority for either an emergency protection order or an interim care order. They must also be given proper notice of the evidence the local authority is relying upon.





(Doc) JUDGMENT STRASBOURG 16 July 2002

This judgment will become final in the circumstances set out in Article 44 § 2 of the Convention. It may be subject to editorial revision. In the case of P., C. And S. v. the United Kingdom, The European Court of Human Rights (Second Section), sitting as a Chamber composed of: Mr J.-P. Costa, President,
Mr A.B. Baka, Sir Nicolas Bratza, Mr Gaukur Jörundsson, Mr L. Loucaides,
Mr C. Bîrsan, Mr M. Ugrekhelidze, judges,
and Mr T.L. Early, Deputy Section Registrar,
Having deliberated in private on 26 March and on 2 July 2002,
Delivers the following judgment, which was adopted on the last-mentioned date: PROCEDURE
1. The case originated in an application (no. 56547/00) against the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland lodged with the Court under Article 34 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (“the Convention”) by three United Kingdom nationals, Mrs P., Mr C. and Ms S. (“the applicants”), on 23 December 1999 and 25 December 2000 respectively.

2. The applicants, who had been granted legal aid, were represented by Mr R. Stein, a solicitor practising in London. The United Kingdom Government (“the Government”) were represented by their Agent, Mr H. Llewellyn of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, London. The President of the Chamber acceded to the applicants' request not to have their names disclosed (Rule 47 3 of the Rules of Court).

3. The applicants alleged that the measures taken by the authorities in removing S. at birth from her parents, placing her in care and freeing her for adoption breached Article 8 of the Convention and that the procedures followed were in breach of Article 6 of the Convention.
They also invoked Article 12 of the Convention.





(Doc) RESEARCH PAPER 00/63 16 JUNE 2000 The Children Leaving Care Bill
Bill 134 1999-2000

The Bill extends the duties of local authorities to care leavers and removes the entitlement of 16 and 17 year old care leavers to the main income-related benefits.
It makes the authority that last looked after the young person responsible for the after-care duties rather than the authority in which the young person is living.
Local authorities will have a new duty to keep in touch with care leavers, to provide them with a personal adviser and to prepare pathway plans mapping their route to independence, including support to be provided by the local authority.

The Bill applies to England and Wales except for Clause 6, which deals with social security benefits and therefore also applies to Scotland.
The Second Reading in the House of Commons is due on 21 June 2000.




Documents written by faceless government bodies on how to use the multitude of powers given Social Services.




(Doc) 15 May 2007 - New approaches needed to help children in care - McGimpsey Government must work together and develop new approaches to improving services for children in care, Health Minister, Michael McGimpsey. Northern Ireland.
April 2007




(Doc) IMPROVEMENT, EXPANSION AND REFORM: THE NEXT 3 YEARS PRIORITIES AND PLANNING FRAMEWORK 2003 - 2006 Improvement, Expansion & Reform: The Next Three Years
The extra money coming into Health and Social Services gives us the opportunity to make real improvements. We can expand through recruiting new staff, developing new services and creating new facilities.
Even more importantly we can transform the quality of services by raising standards, tackling inequality, becoming more accessible and flexible and designing our services around the needs and choices of the people we serve.

This is about both quality and growth. The real test for success will be whether people can feel the difference and believe the services they receive are truly designed around them. These are hugely ambitious goals.
They will take time to deliver. Making progress over the next three years will be demanding and difficult and require real determination and discipline.
It will need us to:
focus on priorities
we cannot make progress at the same pace in every area extract the maximum value from every pound
be prepared to change old practices
be creative and take uncomfortable and difficult decisions in the drive to improve quality and respond to people using services Local plans





(Doc) THE SOCIAL SECURITY & CHILD SUPPORT COMMISSIONERS OF GREAT BRITAIN PRACTICE MEMORANDUM No 4 Transcripts at Public Expense

1. As all Commissioners’ decisions and determinations must be in writing and are issued to all parties, the provision of transcripts of oral decisions and determinations is never required.
This Practice Memorandum concerns the provision of a transcript of what has been said at an oral hearing before a Commissioner. 2. Where proceedings before a Commissioner are recorded, tapes shall normally be kept for six months and shall not be released to any party or other person, save for official transcribers for the purposes of transcription.
3. Where a tape of proceedings is in existence, a transcript shall be provided upon request but:
(i) subject to the following paragraphs, only at the expense of the person making the request; and
(ii) where the hearing was not in public, only to a party to the proceedings unless the Commissioner otherwise directs.





(Doc) A response to the Northern Ireland Executive's consultation. The intrusion into family life. It is social workers and the police who will have to enforce new laws against the physical punishment of children by parents. Whether there is an outright ban, or more legal restrictions on smacking the end result will be more state power to intervene into family life. Here there is an immediate problem. Many of the social workers who are in charge of the child protection system hold the view that all smacking is child abuse and should be illegal. The question is: are such social workers able to separate their own private views (opposed by the vast majority of parents) from the way they carry out their duties? The judgement of social workers can be coloured by their own views as to how things should be. If social workers abuse their powers and treat loving parents as child abusers, then innocent families will be shattered. When social workers get things wrong many children can be harmed, as a number of high profile cases have shown. Large numbers of children were removed from their families in Cleveland and Orkney only to be returned traumatised when the allegations were accepted as false.





(Doc) March 2005 Relevant Experience for Training to be a Social Worker in Northern Ireland his information sheet examines the reasons why having relevant experience is advantageous to someone who is applying to a degree in social work course. It provides examples and contacts for the most effective ways of obtaining social work/social care experience within Northern Ireland. Further information about approved social work education and training in Northern Ireland is available from the NISCC website at www.niscc.info , or by telephone on 028 90417600.





(Doc) Statistics and Research Branch Evaluation of the Northern Ireland Youth Conference Service Catriona Campbell, Roisin Devlin, David O’Mahony, Jonathan Doak John Jackson, Tanya Corrigan and Kieran McEvoy Evaluation of the Northern Ireland Youth Conference Service NIO Research and Statistical Series: Report No. 12 by Catriona Campbell, Roisin Devlin, David O’Mahony, Jonathan Doak, John Jackson, Tanya Corrigan and Kieran McEvoy Institute of Criminology and Criminal Justice, School of Law, Queen’s University, Belfast October 2005.



(Doc) The Experience and Practice of Approved Social Workers in Northern Ireland: Roger Manktelow, is a lecturer in social work at the University of Ulster, Magee College, Derry;
Phil Hughes is an assistant principal social worker with lead responsibility for mental health training in Homefirst and Causeway Trusts, Co Antrim;
Frank Britton is an approved social worker and senior social worker in Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh;
Jim Campbell is a lecturer in social work at the Queens University Belfast;
Bernadette Hamilton is a senior social worker and coordinator of the approved social work training programme in Northern Ireland;
George Wilson is now M.S.W. Course Co-ordinator at Queens University Belfast and was an assistant principal social worker and lead trainer in mental health in the Southern Health and Social Services Board at the time of the research.





(Doc) Every child matters Presented to Parliament by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury by Command of Her Majesty September 2003.

Foreword by the Prime Minister 1 Introduction by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury 3 Executive Summary 5 The Challenge 13Strong Foundations 25 Supporting Parents and Carers 39 Early Intervention and Effective Protection 51 Accountability and Integration – Locally, Regionally and Nationally 67 Workforce Reform 83 Appendices: Consultation Process and Summary of Questions 98 Timetable for Action on Information Sharing 101





(Doc) Statistics and Research Branch Evaluation of the Northern Ireland Youth Conference Service

Catriona Campbell, Roisin Devlin, David O’Mahony, Jonathan Doak John Jackson, Tanya Corrigan and Kieran McEvoy Evaluation of the Northern Ireland Youth Conference Service NIO Research and Statistical Series: Report No. 12 by Catriona Campbell, Roisin Devlin, David O’Mahony, Jonathan Doak, John Jackson, Tanya Corrigan and Kieran McEvoy Institute of Criminology and
Criminal Justice,
School of Law,
Queen’s University,
Belfast October 2005





Society Perspective: News Reports.


(Doc) Parents need a helping hand

There's nothing more challenging than being a mum or dad, Tony Blair said as he announced that a network of 77 experts will provide tips on how to be good parents. The government has decided to offer a helping hand to those whose children are getting involved in anti-social behaviour. Most people think that parents should be responsible for the behaviour of their children, but they also think they should get help when their kids are in trouble. The PM, in an article for The Sun newspaper, explained: "There are some families who can't cope with it. That's a fact. It doesn't much matter whether it's their 'fault' or not. The fact is when they don't cope, the children suffer and then we all suffer." But he insisted that helping out with the parenting 21 November 2006





(Doc) Society Guardian: Main points of the children's green paper A children's commissioner for England, increased local political responsibility and better coordination of services are just some of the measures proposed in the green paper - Every Child Matters

David Batty
Monday September 8, 2003






(Doc) The Guardian John Carvel Tuesday September 9, 2003 Biggest shake-up for 30 years
John Carvel
Tuesday September 9, 2003

The biggest reorganisation of children's services in England for 30 years, launched in a government consultation paper yesterday, responded to the Laming inquiry into the murder of Victoria Climbié.
The paper, Every Child Matters, set the aim of ensuring "that every child has the chance to fulfil their potential by reducing levels of educational failure, ill health, substance misuse, teenage pregnancy, abuse and neglect, crime and anti-social behaviour among children and young people".
In the paper's introduction, Tony Blair said the names of abused children whose deaths triggered previous inquiries "echoing down the years, are a standing shame to us all". The green paper said: "From past inquiries into the deaths of Maria Colwell and Jasmine Beckford to recent cases such as Lauren Wright and Ainlee Walker, there are striking similarities which show some of the problems are of long standing. The common threads which led in each case to a failure to intervene early enough were poor coordination; a failure to share information; the absence of anyone with a strong sense of accountability; and frontline workers trying to cope with staff vacancies, poor management and a lack of effective training.





(Doc) The Guardian:

Plan to keep file on every child Every child in England will be given a unique identifying number attached to an electronic file of personal information about their lives, under plans announced yesterday to avoid a repetition of the murder of Victoria Climbié.





(Doc) The Times: Blind justice without a name:

If social workers really are manufacturing evidence in child abuse cases, their anonymity is assured.
Camilla Cavendish.





(Doc) Doc) Sunday Telegraph: Council hands adoption cases to child charity. Harrow was criticised by government inspectors for placing only seven of the 11 children required to meet the 2005-6 target, and has so far placed only three children in 2006-7.
Critics say that the increasing reluctance of councils to use experienced agencies with hundreds of families approved for adoption on their books leads to delays in placing children.
The number of adoptions nationally fell by three per cent last year and councils failed to meet the Government's target of a 50 per cent increase in adoptions between 2000 and 2006.
Councils say it costs them up to £15,000 to place a child using their own adoption services, compared with up to £26,000 if they use an outside agency. Coram's fee for providing a family and supporting the child is £24,900 but Harlow council said it had decided to "outsource" adoption because it was in the children's best interests.

By David Harrison:
19/02/2007





(Doc) Counsellors Must Break Code of silence Counsellors may have to tell the police about child-abuse cases under a proposed law.
But, argues Liz Duvent, whose daughter was sexually assaulted by her grandfather, this will deter victims from seeking help Six months ago my 16-year-old daughter told me she had been sexually abused by my father.
She had been bottling up this appalling news for two years, and once she revealed it she fell apart.





(Doc) Foster father raped me: SOCIAL workers in Cornwall have defended their procedures after it was revealed that they placed a young girl into the hands of a foster father who persistently raped her. Now 17, the teenager has talked exclusively to the Packet about her ordeal and appealed for others in the same position as her to speak out. Exclusive By Paul Armstrong





(Doc) The Guardian: Timeline: a history of child protection David Batty
plots the development of child welfare policy over a century of legislation Wednesday May 18, 2005





(Doc) Daily Mail told the horrific story of a family whose children were confiscated by social services because their loving parents were "too slow".
The outcry it sparked has been astonishing - and reveals the true scale of this scandal.... They are a hidden population, 250,000 strong but without a proper voice or control over their futures.
Shockingly, they are 50 times more likely than their neighbours to have their children taken into care and run a significantly higher risk of losing those children permanently. Their crime is to be "slow" intellectually, to have a low IQ or to be labelled as having a learning disability.
Last Saturday, the Daily Mail revealed the scandalous case of a young couple whose family has been destroyed because their IQ's did not satisfy Essex County Council.





Websites that deal with Social Services Family Intervention and try to help the Parents through this waking nightmare.- U.K.


External site: Forced Adoption U.K.Social services have never hurt me,my family, or my friends, but their wicked abuse of power has simply shocked me into action ! I try to help parents who are desperately trying to recover or at least make contact either with their children or worse still with "newborn babies" snatched by social services from mothers that have never caused them harm. Those social workers who snatch, and those lawyers, judges, and "experts" who combine to help them should ALL be sent to prison for a long time. (see section "get your children back")





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No child can be identified by any posts on this website. Every child should be able to move on in future without reminder of past intervention by any authority. Many victims of the U.K. System are the children.
We are indeed aware of Article 170: Privacy for children involved in certain proceedings. but also Section 62: Publication of material relating to legal proceedings (251.252.) Which means that nothing can be published that may identify any CHILD during court process yet; Council's can publish photographs and detailed profiles of children online in advertising them for adoption.

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