Take away lessons for social workers and CAFCASS officers involved in private law proceedings. This legal blog discusses the case of Re Hesketh (Contempt in the Face of the Court) [2025] that highlights how judges can respond to an aggressive and abusive parent in the family court. With more and more parents acting… Continue reading
This legal blog is part 1 of an exploration of a series of private children act case law, highlighting the complexities that can arise in private law proceedings. As a children’s social worker or as a Cafcass officer, have you ever been told this is an easy case, it is only… Continue reading
A recent case I read relating to an Ukrainian child felt very timely further to the recent visit on 01 March 2025 by the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, to Sir Keir Starmer. The Ukrainian President told Sir Starmer, Prime Minister, he was happy his country had “such friends” after arriving in the UK. This… Continue reading
Follow these top tips to assist in writing robust court reports that includes all the significant and relevant evidence. Continue reading
The aim of the pilot is to introduce a presumption that legal bloggers and accredited media may report on what they see and hear during family court cases, subject to strict rules of anonymity. “Openness and confidentiality are not irreconcilable, and each is achievable. The aim is to enhance public… Continue reading
January 2024 There has been a longstanding call for greater transparency in the Family Court. Greater openness and public scrutiny enables an increase in the confidence in the Family Court and decisions made in family proceedings. Steps towards transparency. Since 2009 accredited reporters and more recently legal bloggers have been… Continue reading
Good practice guidance relating to complaints made against Children Services. In a recent training session, I was requested to clarify what happens if someone wants to complain against a decision made by children social care services. So this legal blog is about the complaints process. This legal blog is intended… Continue reading
Helpful tips on how to achieve the PLO statutory timeframe. The Public Law Outline (PLO) The PLO will be very familiar to those practitioners involved in Public Law Children Act Care Proceedings. For those unfamiliar or new to this area, the PLO provides a template for case management of care… Continue reading
April 2023 The government has established the National Age Assessment Board to strengthen age assessments of small boat arrivals and make decisions more consistent and robust. Age Assessments Age Assessments are presently undertaken by local authority social workers. They are required if there is a dispute as to whether the… Continue reading
April 2023 The Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) form part of the Mental Capacity Act, introduced in 2009 to protect the rights of people who lack capacity to consent to their arrangements which could amount to a deprivation of their liberty. Why the change from DoLS to Liberty Protection Safeguards (LPS)… Continue reading
