(Doc = In Document Format)
(Doc) Adult Wellbeing THE SCALE
(Doc) Alcohol Use:
(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) 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.
(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) 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) April 2002. Child Care Plan The introduction of “Children First the Northern Ireland Childcare Strategy” 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) Family Division Court Northern Ireland - RE: (Disclosure to a third party.) (9 April 2003) GILC3902 [Mr Gillen] "(1) The welfare and interests of the child or children concerned in the care proceedings. If the child is likely to be adversely affected by the order in any serious way, this will be a very important factor. (2) The welfare and interests of other children generally. (3) The maintenance of confidentiality in children's cases. (4) The importance of encouraging frankness in children's cases. (5) The public interest in the administration of justice. Barriers should not be erected between one branch of the judicature and another .. (6) The public interest in the prosecution of serious crime and the punishment of offenders … There is a strong public interest in making available material to the police which is relevant to a criminal trial … (7) The gravity of the alleged offence and the relevance of the evidence to it. (8) The desirability of cooperation between various agencies concerned with the welfare of children, including the Social Services departments, the Police Service, medical practitioners, health visitors, schools etc. This is particularly important in cases concerning children." [17] In addition, as I indicated in Re L (Disclosure to Third Party) (Unreported: GILC3791), interdisciplinary and interagency work is an essential process in the task of attempting to protect children from abuse. There must be free exchange so far as possible between agencies in order to facilitate that work and protect children. This requires the sharing and exchange of relevant information between social workers of different areas. I regard child protection teams as an important component of interagency work to protect children.
(Doc)Family Division Court Northern Ireland - RE: (Disclosure to a third party.) (9 April 2003) GILC3902 [Mr Gillen] "(1) The welfare and interests of the child or children concerned in the care proceedings. If the child is likely to be adversely affected by the order in any serious way, this will be a very important factor. (2) The welfare and interests of other children generally. (3) The maintenance of confidentiality in children's cases. (4) The importance of encouraging frankness in children's cases. (5) The public interest in the administration of justice. Barriers should not be erected between one branch of the judicature and another .. (6) The public interest in the prosecution of serious crime and the punishment of offenders … There is a strong public interest in making available material to the police which is relevant to a criminal trial … (7) The gravity of the alleged offence and the relevance of the evidence to it. (8) The desirability of cooperation between various agencies concerned with the welfare of children, including the Social Services departments, the Police Service, medical practitioners, health visitors, schools etc. This is particularly important in cases concerning children." [17] In addition, as I indicated in Re L (Disclosure to Third Party) (Unreported: GILC3791), interdisciplinary and interagency work is an essential process in the task of attempting to protect children from abuse. There must be free exchange so far as possible between agencies in order to facilitate that work and protect children. This requires the sharing and exchange of relevant information between social workers of different areas. I regard child protection teams as an important component of interagency work to protect children. Family Division Court Northern Ireland - RE: Foyle Health and Social Services Trust v LM (01 April 04) MCLC4090[ Mr 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 – 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."
(Doc) Family Division Court Northern Ireland - RE: (CARE ORDER: FREEING ORDER: PARENTS WITH A LEARNING DISABILITY) [ Mr 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)[ McLAUGHLIN J] 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) [ Mr HIGGINS J ] The application for care orders was listed for hearing at the Family Proceedings Court on 11 January 2001. On that date it was adjourned to 26 January 2001. The Trust then filed an application requesting that the case be transferred to the Family Care Centre together with a written submission setting out why interim care orders in respect of all four children were sought. This submission was to the effect that before an application to free the children for adoption under Article 18 of the Order 1987 (freeing without parental agreement) could be made, the children required to be the subject of a care or interim care order. A direction hearing was fixed for 22 February 2001 at which the Recorder considered whether interim care orders should be made. He reserved his decision and give his ruling in a written judgment on 20 March 2001. He was satisfied that there were reasonable grounds for believing that the threshold conditions in Article 50 were met. Mr McGuigan BL who appeared in the Family Care Centre, assured the Recorder that adoption was not the only plan for the children. There remained the possibility of an assessment of the mother and the children and the Trust had not yet secured the mother's commitment to such assessment. The Recorder decided to make the interim care orders sought.
(Doc) Family Division Court Northern Ireland - RE: (IN THE MATTER OF B AND N (CHILDREN (ALLOCATION OF PROCEEDINGS) ORDER (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1996) (13 March 2002) [ Mr GILLEN J ] The Children (Allocation of Proceedings) Order (Northern Ireland) 1996, ("the 1996 Order") where relevant, provides as follows: "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. 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."
(Doc) Family Division Court Northern Ireland - RE: (DOWN LISBURN HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES TRUST) [ Mr WEIR J ] [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: (DOWN LISBURN HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES TRUST) [ Mr WEIR J ] [2] The applicant ("the Trust") applies for a Care Order pursuant to Article 50 of the Children (NI) Order 1995
(Doc) Family Division Court Northern Ireland - RE: (DOWN LISBURN HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES TRUST) [ Mr WEIR J ] [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: (ET26/99/OCP) (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. The fact that E is in care is no bar to her father obtaining parental responsibility for her – see D v Hereford CC 1991 1 FLR 205. Furthermore the mother and father of a child can enter into a parental responsibility agreement in respect of the child and the designated authority (the Trust) cannot prevent it, despite legitimate concerns or criticisms which may be raised about the father – see Re X 2000 1 WLR 1031.
(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 ] (North & West Belfast Health & Social Services Trust) [1] In any report of this case I direct that there should be no identification of the name of the children, the names of either parent or any other matter that may lead to the identification of the family who are the subject of this application. [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.
(Doc) Family Division Court Northern Ireland - RE: (IN THE MATTER OF AN APPEAL FROM THE FAMILY CARE CENTRE RE E, E1 AND A) (29 May 2003) [GILLEN J] "(1) No allegation of sexual abuse by the paternal grandmother was ever mentioned to any doctor or social worker during the period of approximately 30 months which elapsed since the issue of alleged sexual abuse by the paternal grandfather was under investigation. (2) The issue of sexual abuse has been fully analysed by Dr Swan in her report and explained by her when she gave evidence on 4 February 2002. Alleged sexual abuse was a sole issue which was exhaustively examined by counsel during two full days of evidence. My judgment dated 21 March 2002 provides a full summary of such evidence and my views. (3) The mother abandoned her appeal against my findings. (4) In view of the foregoing I refuse to accept that creditable allegations of sexual abuse now emerge. The observations read by Dr Swan – see the second paragraph of page 17 of my judgment, and my own views – see second paragraph of page 22 of the judgment, influenced my decision".
Family Division Court Northern Ireland - RE: (E and M (Applications to Free for Adoption) (1999/3F and 4F) (02.02.2001) [HIGGINS J] 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."
(Doc) Doc) Sunday Telegraph: By David Harrison: Council hands adoption cases to child charity. 19/02/2007 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.
(Doc) Counsellors 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) CORE ASSESSMENT RECORD Child aged 0–2 years 1 of 32 Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families CORE ASSESSMENT RECORD
(Doc) CORE ASSESSMENT RECORD Child aged 10–14 years 1 of 40 Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families
(Doc) CORE ASSESSMENT RECORD Young person aged 15 years and over Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families
(Doc) CORE ASSESSMENT RECORD Child aged 5–9 years 1 of 36 Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families
(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) EDM 869 WORKING OF THE CHILDREN ACT 200426.10.2005 Pickles, Eric 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.
(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) 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) 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 Sharing101
(Doc) Family Activity SCALE Family Activity SCALE FOR CHILDREN AGED 2 TO 6
(Doc) The Family Pack of Questionnaires and Scales Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families ACox and A Bentovim Department of Health The Family Pack of Questionnaires and Scales A Cox and A Bentovim
(Doc) LET ME INTRODUCE MYSELF My name is IAN JOSEPHS . 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 ! I will explain and justify this later on.Meanwhile,reading through websites can be tedious,so before I tell you more about myself and the "SS", and just in case you get bored reading this I'll begin with essential advice for those who are already suffering Citation: BLD 160403280; [2003] EWHC 850 (Admin). Hearing Date: 15 April 2003 Court: Administrative Court. Judge: Munby J. Abstract. "Per curiam. If the state, in the guise of a local authority, seeks to remove a baby from his parents at a time when its case against the parents has not yet even been established, then the very least the state can do is to make generous arrangements for contact, those arrangements being driven by the needs of the family and not stunted by lack of resources. Typically, if this is what the parents want, one will be looking to contact most days of the week and for lengthy periods. Local authorities also had to be sensitive to the wishes of a mother who wants to breast-feed, and should make suitable arrangements to enable her to do so, and not merely to bottle-feed expressed breast milk. Nothing less would meet the imperative demands of the European Convention on Human Rights."... Published Date 16/04/2003 This case establishes the right of the mother to breastfeed, and is often ignored both by SS and judges! Fight for parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins all to have contact under the Human Rights Act. (see section "get your children back")
(Doc) Exclusive By Paul Armstrong 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. http://www.falmouthpacket.co.uk/mostpopular.var.1142265.mostviewed.foster_father_raped_me.php
(Doc) Department of Health Department for Education and Employment Home Office Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families Social Care Group 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) 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) House of Commons debates Thursday, 2 March 2006What are Commons debates? Orders of the Day — Children and Adoption Bill See the whole debate 4:04 pm 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) Home Conditions ASSESSMENT 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) Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families INITIAL ASSESSMENT RECORD 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) 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) Case No: CT01C00052 And in the Matter of the Children Act 1989 Neutral Citation Number: [2004] EWHC 411 (Fam) IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE FAMILY DIVISION PRINCIPAL REGISTRY (In Public) Royal Courts of Justice Strand, London, WC2A 2LL Date: 19 March 2004 THE HONOURABLE MR JUSTICE MUNBY 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 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.
(Doc) In the matter of unborn baby M R (on the application of X and Y) Claimant - and - GLOUCESTERSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL Defendant Neutral Citation Number: [2003] EWHC 850 (Admin) Case No: CO/1814/2003 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE QUEENS BENCH DIVISION ADMINISTRATIVE COURT Royal Courts of Justice Strand, London, WC2A 2LL Tuesday 15th April 2003 B e f o r e : THE HONOURABLE MR JUSTICE MUNBY Precident Between: In the matter of unborn baby M R (on the application of X and Y) Claimant - and - GLOUCESTERSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL Defendant. 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.
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(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, said today.
(Doc) 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) Parents need a helping hand 21 November 2006 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
(Doc) Bracknell Forest ACPC – Multi-agency Pre-birth Protocol – Final Document – July 2005 1 MULTI-AGENCY PRE-BIRTH PROTOCOL INTRODUCTION 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 (see Appendix A).
(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
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(Doc) 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) 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) 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) RESEARCH PAPER 00/63 16 JUNE 2000 The Children Leaving Care Bill [HL] 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. Jo Roll SOCIAL POLICY SECTION HOUSE OF COMMONS LIBRARY
(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.
(Doc) Strengths and Difficulties QUESTIONNAIRE Strengths and Difficulties GUIDANCE ON USING QUESTIONNAIRES
(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) 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
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(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) 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.
(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) 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) April 2002. Child Care Plan The introduction of “Children First the Northern Ireland Childcare Strategy” 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) Family Division Court Northern Ireland - RE: (Disclosure to a third party.) (9 April 2003) GILC3902 [Mr Gillen] "(1) The welfare and interests of the child or children concerned in the care proceedings. If the child is likely to be adversely affected by the order in any serious way, this will be a very important factor. (2) The welfare and interests of other children generally. (3) The maintenance of confidentiality in children's cases. (4) The importance of encouraging frankness in children's cases. (5) The public interest in the administration of justice. Barriers should not be erected between one branch of the judicature and another .. (6) The public interest in the prosecution of serious crime and the punishment of offenders … There is a strong public interest in making available material to the police which is relevant to a criminal trial … (7) The gravity of the alleged offence and the relevance of the evidence to it. (8) The desirability of cooperation between various agencies concerned with the welfare of children, including the Social Services departments, the Police Service, medical practitioners, health visitors, schools etc. This is particularly important in cases concerning children." [17] In addition, as I indicated in Re L (Disclosure to Third Party) (Unreported: GILC3791), interdisciplinary and interagency work is an essential process in the task of attempting to protect children from abuse. There must be free exchange so far as possible between agencies in order to facilitate that work and protect children. This requires the sharing and exchange of relevant information between social workers of different areas. I regard child protection teams as an important component of interagency work to protect children.
(Doc)Family Division Court Northern Ireland - RE: (Disclosure to a third party.) (9 April 2003) GILC3902 [Mr Gillen] "(1) The welfare and interests of the child or children concerned in the care proceedings. If the child is likely to be adversely affected by the order in any serious way, this will be a very important factor. (2) The welfare and interests of other children generally. (3) The maintenance of confidentiality in children's cases. (4) The importance of encouraging frankness in children's cases. (5) The public interest in the administration of justice. Barriers should not be erected between one branch of the judicature and another .. (6) The public interest in the prosecution of serious crime and the punishment of offenders … There is a strong public interest in making available material to the police which is relevant to a criminal trial … (7) The gravity of the alleged offence and the relevance of the evidence to it. (8) The desirability of cooperation between various agencies concerned with the welfare of children, including the Social Services departments, the Police Service, medical practitioners, health visitors, schools etc. This is particularly important in cases concerning children." [17] In addition, as I indicated in Re L (Disclosure to Third Party) (Unreported: GILC3791), interdisciplinary and interagency work is an essential process in the task of attempting to protect children from abuse. There must be free exchange so far as possible between agencies in order to facilitate that work and protect children. This requires the sharing and exchange of relevant information between social workers of different areas. I regard child protection teams as an important component of interagency work to protect children. Family Division Court Northern Ireland - RE: Foyle Health and Social Services Trust v LM (01 April 04) MCLC4090[ Mr 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 – 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."
(Doc) Family Division Court Northern Ireland - RE: (CARE ORDER: FREEING ORDER: PARENTS WITH A LEARNING DISABILITY) [ Mr 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)[ McLAUGHLIN J] 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) [ Mr HIGGINS J ] The application for care orders was listed for hearing at the Family Proceedings Court on 11 January 2001. On that date it was adjourned to 26 January 2001. The Trust then filed an application requesting that the case be transferred to the Family Care Centre together with a written submission setting out why interim care orders in respect of all four children were sought. This submission was to the effect that before an application to free the children for adoption under Article 18 of the Order 1987 (freeing without parental agreement) could be made, the children required to be the subject of a care or interim care order. A direction hearing was fixed for 22 February 2001 at which the Recorder considered whether interim care orders should be made. He reserved his decision and give his ruling in a written judgment on 20 March 2001. He was satisfied that there were reasonable grounds for believing that the threshold conditions in Article 50 were met. Mr McGuigan BL who appeared in the Family Care Centre, assured the Recorder that adoption was not the only plan for the children. There remained the possibility of an assessment of the mother and the children and the Trust had not yet secured the mother's commitment to such assessment. The Recorder decided to make the interim care orders sought.
(Doc) Family Division Court Northern Ireland - RE: (IN THE MATTER OF B AND N (CHILDREN (ALLOCATION OF PROCEEDINGS) ORDER (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1996) (13 March 2002) [ Mr GILLEN J ] The Children (Allocation of Proceedings) Order (Northern Ireland) 1996, ("the 1996 Order") where relevant, provides as follows: "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. 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."
(Doc) Family Division Court Northern Ireland - RE: (DOWN LISBURN HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES TRUST) [ Mr WEIR J ] [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: (DOWN LISBURN HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES TRUST) [ Mr WEIR J ] [2] The applicant ("the Trust") applies for a Care Order pursuant to Article 50 of the Children (NI) Order 1995
(Doc) Family Division Court Northern Ireland - RE: (DOWN LISBURN HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES TRUST) [ Mr WEIR J ] [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: (ET26/99/OCP) (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. The fact that E is in care is no bar to her father obtaining parental responsibility for her – see D v Hereford CC 1991 1 FLR 205. Furthermore the mother and father of a child can enter into a parental responsibility agreement in respect of the child and the designated authority (the Trust) cannot prevent it, despite legitimate concerns or criticisms which may be raised about the father – see Re X 2000 1 WLR 1031.
(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 ] (North & West Belfast Health & Social Services Trust) [1] In any report of this case I direct that there should be no identification of the name of the children, the names of either parent or any other matter that may lead to the identification of the family who are the subject of this application. [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.
(Doc) Family Division Court Northern Ireland - RE: (IN THE MATTER OF AN APPEAL FROM THE FAMILY CARE CENTRE RE E, E1 AND A) (29 May 2003) [GILLEN J] "(1) No allegation of sexual abuse by the paternal grandmother was ever mentioned to any doctor or social worker during the period of approximately 30 months which elapsed since the issue of alleged sexual abuse by the paternal grandfather was under investigation. (2) The issue of sexual abuse has been fully analysed by Dr Swan in her report and explained by her when she gave evidence on 4 February 2002. Alleged sexual abuse was a sole issue which was exhaustively examined by counsel during two full days of evidence. My judgment dated 21 March 2002 provides a full summary of such evidence and my views. (3) The mother abandoned her appeal against my findings. (4) In view of the foregoing I refuse to accept that creditable allegations of sexual abuse now emerge. The observations read by Dr Swan – see the second paragraph of page 17 of my judgment, and my own views – see second paragraph of page 22 of the judgment, influenced my decision".
Family Division Court Northern Ireland - RE: (E and M (Applications to Free for Adoption) (1999/3F and 4F) (02.02.2001) [HIGGINS J] 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."
(Doc) Doc) Sunday Telegraph: By David Harrison: Council hands adoption cases to child charity. 19/02/2007 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.
(Doc) Counsellors 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) CORE ASSESSMENT RECORD Child aged 0–2 years 1 of 32 Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families CORE ASSESSMENT RECORD
(Doc) CORE ASSESSMENT RECORD Child aged 10–14 years 1 of 40 Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families
(Doc) CORE ASSESSMENT RECORD Young person aged 15 years and over Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families
(Doc) CORE ASSESSMENT RECORD Child aged 5–9 years 1 of 36 Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families
(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) EDM 869 WORKING OF THE CHILDREN ACT 200426.10.2005 Pickles, Eric 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.
(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) 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) 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 Sharing101
(Doc) Family Activity SCALE Family Activity SCALE FOR CHILDREN AGED 2 TO 6
(Doc) The Family Pack of Questionnaires and Scales Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families ACox and A Bentovim Department of Health The Family Pack of Questionnaires and Scales A Cox and A Bentovim
(Doc) LET ME INTRODUCE MYSELF My name is IAN JOSEPHS . 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 ! I will explain and justify this later on.Meanwhile,reading through websites can be tedious,so before I tell you more about myself and the "SS", and just in case you get bored reading this I'll begin with essential advice for those who are already suffering Citation: BLD 160403280; [2003] EWHC 850 (Admin). Hearing Date: 15 April 2003 Court: Administrative Court. Judge: Munby J. Abstract. "Per curiam. If the state, in the guise of a local authority, seeks to remove a baby from his parents at a time when its case against the parents has not yet even been established, then the very least the state can do is to make generous arrangements for contact, those arrangements being driven by the needs of the family and not stunted by lack of resources. Typically, if this is what the parents want, one will be looking to contact most days of the week and for lengthy periods. Local authorities also had to be sensitive to the wishes of a mother who wants to breast-feed, and should make suitable arrangements to enable her to do so, and not merely to bottle-feed expressed breast milk. Nothing less would meet the imperative demands of the European Convention on Human Rights."... Published Date 16/04/2003 This case establishes the right of the mother to breastfeed, and is often ignored both by SS and judges! Fight for parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins all to have contact under the Human Rights Act. (see section "get your children back")
(Doc) Exclusive By Paul Armstrong 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. http://www.falmouthpacket.co.uk/mostpopular.var.1142265.mostviewed.foster_father_raped_me.php
(Doc) Department of Health Department for Education and Employment Home Office Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families Social Care Group 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) 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) House of Commons debates Thursday, 2 March 2006What are Commons debates? Orders of the Day — Children and Adoption Bill See the whole debate 4:04 pm 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) Home Conditions ASSESSMENT 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) Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families INITIAL ASSESSMENT RECORD 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) 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) Case No: CT01C00052 And in the Matter of the Children Act 1989 Neutral Citation Number: [2004] EWHC 411 (Fam) IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE FAMILY DIVISION PRINCIPAL REGISTRY (In Public) Royal Courts of Justice Strand, London, WC2A 2LL Date: 19 March 2004 THE HONOURABLE MR JUSTICE MUNBY 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 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.
(Doc) In the matter of unborn baby M R (on the application of X and Y) Claimant - and - GLOUCESTERSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL Defendant Neutral Citation Number: [2003] EWHC 850 (Admin) Case No: CO/1814/2003 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE QUEENS BENCH DIVISION ADMINISTRATIVE COURT Royal Courts of Justice Strand, London, WC2A 2LL Tuesday 15th April 2003 B e f o r e : THE HONOURABLE MR JUSTICE MUNBY Precident Between: In the matter of unborn baby M R (on the application of X and Y) Claimant - and - GLOUCESTERSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL Defendant. 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) nimin.html
(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, said today.
(Doc) 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) Parents need a helping hand 21 November 2006 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
(Doc) Bracknell Forest ACPC – Multi-agency Pre-birth Protocol – Final Document – July 2005 1 MULTI-AGENCY PRE-BIRTH PROTOCOL INTRODUCTION 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 (see Appendix A).
(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) recentlifevent.htm
(Doc) 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) 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) 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) RESEARCH PAPER 00/63 16 JUNE 2000 The Children Leaving Care Bill [HL] 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. Jo Roll SOCIAL POLICY SECTION HOUSE OF COMMONS LIBRARY
(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.
(Doc) Strengths and Difficulties QUESTIONNAIRE Strengths and Difficulties GUIDANCE ON USING QUESTIONNAIRES
(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) 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
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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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This right is protected by law, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (article 19), and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (article 19).
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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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