Cases Archive

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

Wardship – Independent social worker – Application by parents to use independent social worker – Application twice refused by court – Continued use of independent social worker despite lack of authorization by the court – Independent social worker shown documents involved in case – Breach of confidentiality in wardship proceedings – Third application by parents for leave to permit independent social worker to give evidence – Whether court should give leave – Factors to be taken into account