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
The Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Act 2022 received royal assent in April 2022 and came into force on 27 February 2023 This Act increases another needed step towards child protection. It also has the benefits of working towards the world’s target to eliminate child marriages by 2030. Further information on the world’s target can… Continue reading
Molly Russell and the impact of social media The inquest into the death of Molly Russell, 14 year old school concluded on 30th September 2022. The Senior Coroner sitting at North London Coroner’s court found that Molly died from an act of self harm whilst suffering from depression and the… Continue reading
Those of you who have attended our effective court report writing training you will be familiar with the need to use clear understandable language in court documents and when communicating with parents, prospective carers, or service users. This is vital as parents/carers/service users being assessed need to understand: -the evidence… Continue reading
Once an individual has exhausted the statutory complaints process within the Local Authority and is not satisfied with the outcome, the individual complainant can then apply to the LGO for a further independent investigation of their complaint. The LGO shares their decisions on their website; the reason for this is… Continue reading
You can read the related Part 1 on SGO support plans by clicking here part-1-special-guardian-order In part 1 a number of cases before the LGO highlighted the need to provide the right support and guidance to carers and children subject to Special Guardianship Orders (SGO). The LGO in it’s report,… Continue reading
This month we wanted to share some useful resources with you. Guidance on Hospital discharge and community support guidance This guidance applies in relation to adults being discharged from acute hospitals and community rehabilitation units in England, excluding maternity patients.https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hospital-discharge-and-community-support-guidance/hospital-discharge-and-community-support-guidance Forced marriage How to protect, advise and support victims of… Continue reading
A young person’s age is a key part of the information needed when assessing needs and ascertaining the appropriate provision of services. An age assessment is required when the age of a purported unaccompanied asylum seeking child (UASC) is disputed and needs to be determined. This type of assessment is… Continue reading
The tragic deaths of Arther Labinjo- Hughes and Start Hobson created a public outcry. From these tragedies, lessons need to be learnt. To assist in this process, the national review has recently published a report by The Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel -Child Protection in England https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1078488/ALH_SH_National_Review_26-5-22.pdf following both children’s… Continue reading
Councils and CCGs have a joint responsibility to provide or arrange free aftercare for adults, young people, and children until they are satisfied that the person no longer needs it. These responsibilities are set out in the Mental Health Act Code of Practice. They aim to reduce the risk of… Continue reading
