Cases Archive

Child in care – Local authority terminating parental access – Complaint by parent for access to the juvenile court – Subsequent application by local authority to the county court to free for adoption – Imminent hearing for directions at county court – Application by local authority to adjourn juvenile court proceedings – Justices agreeing to adjourn juvenile court proceedings pending outcome of application before county court – Appeal by parent against decision to adjourn – Whether decision to adjourn justified.

Care proceedings – Child born with drug dependency due to mother’s drug abuse – Child taken from mother at birth – Juvenile court finding that child’s health being impaired or proper development being prevented – Whether mother’s conduct before birth relevant – Whether justices entitled to make care order – Children and Young Persons Act 1969, s. 1(2) (a)

Care proceedings – Application in respect of child born suffering from drug abuse symptoms caused by mother’s abuse of drugs during pregnancy – Whether relevant to consider events during pregnancy – Whether wardship proceedings appropriate

Wardship – Ward committed to care of local authority – Proposal to place ward in secure accommodation – Whether local authority should obtain leave of High Court before applying to juvenile court.

Wardship – Child committed to care of local authority – Court directing that child be placed in secure accommodation – Statutory requirements that authority of juvenile court required – Power of High Court to direct that its conclusions be made available to juvenile court – Power of juvenile court to have regard to those conclusions

Wardship – Child placed in care of local authority in wardship proceedings – Court directing that child be placed in secure accommodation – Statutory provisions requiring authority of juvenile court that child be kept in secure accommodation – Juvenile court to have regard to order or directions of High Court

Care proceedings – Application for care order – Local authority proposing to place child with long-term foster parents with a view to adoption – Guardian ad litem recommending short-term placement with a view to rehabilitation – Juvenile court making care order – Mother applying in wardship – Whether lacuna in powers of juvenile court to implement guardian ad litem’s recommendation