Government Legal Department Vacancies

Government Legal Department Vacancies

Re A compliance in care proceedings

Emily Henshaw looks at what Re A compliance means and why it matters. Read more

  NEWS

May 27, 2025

High Court rejects renewed application for deprivation of liberty of teenage girl

The High Court has refused to make an order permitting a local authority to continue depriving a 15-year-old girl of her liberty, finding that depriving a child of their liberty for “pure welfare reasons” or to prevent a child absconding does not come within article 5(1) of the Convention (right to liberty and security).

  FEATURES AND ANALYSIS

June 06, 2025

Fact-finding hearings and allegations of rape

Although a private law children case, there are various points in a recent judgment from Mr Justice Hayden that are relevant to local authorities involved in public law children proceedings, write Joanna Thom and Harrison Engler.
May 21, 2025

Delay and the 26-week time limit

Katharine Brown looks at three recent decisions in which delay and the statutory time limit of 26 weeks for care proceedings were considered.

Sponsored Editorial

  MORE NEWS

May 07, 2025

Ombudsman rejects father’s claim that council failed to consider his concerns that child was victim of Fabricated or Induced Illness (FII) by Proxy

The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has concluded that Lincolnshire County Council consulted medical professionals and considered a father’s concerns in line with relevant policies “without fault”, after he complained the council failed to consider his concerns that his child is a victim of Fabricated or Induced Illness (FII) by Proxy.
Apr 28, 2025

Judge dismisses application for declaration of non-parentage 

The Family Court has dismissed a man’s application for a declaration of non-parentage of a young boy, on whose birth certificate he appears as the father, finding it would not be in the child’s best interests for the application to proceed.
Mar 20, 2025

Local areas “failing to address” safeguarding needs of Black, Asian and Mixed Heritage children and should review approaches to tackling racial bias: report

A new report by the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel has highlighted a “concerning lack of focus” on race, ethnicity, and culture in safeguarding practice and reviews, and has called for Child Safeguarding Partnerships to “review their local strategies and approaches to addressing race, racism, and racial bias”.

  MORE FEATURES

May 21, 2025

Infections and the broad canvas of evidence

The Court of Appeal has allowed an appeal by a local authority over a judge’s finding that a six-year-old girl had contracted gonorrheoa as a result of fomite transmission. Avaia Williams looks at the lessons from the ruling.
May 15, 2025

Care proceedings and mental health

Francesca Massarella calls for a change in the way poor mental health is perceived and approached, particularly before the point of care proceedings being issued.
May 09, 2025

Paediatric reports in care proceedings

A judge recently handed down a judgment that was scathing of expert paediatric evidence relied upon by the applicant local authority in a care proceedings matter. James Hoile explains why.
April 29, 2025

Recorded Webinar: Re M [2025] EWCA Civ 440

Rachel Chan and Gemma Farrington KC guide us through the recent appeal against a court decision refusing a mother's application for an intermediary to assist her during a fact-finding hearing.
April 15, 2025

A bird’s eye view

His Honour Richard Harper explains the purpose of his new book, The Family Court in Practice: a safeguarding guide for all practitioners working with children.
April 15, 2025

Intermediaries and the test of necessity

A recent Court of Appeal ruling has emphasised that there is no warrant for overlaying the test of necessity when it comes to the appointment of intermediaries. Holly Hilbourne-Gollop examines the judgment.
April 15, 2025

Children law update: April 2025

Michael Jones KC analyses the latest children’s law cases of interest, ranging from risk assessments to the designation of local authorities for the purposes of interim care orders.
March 19, 2025

Section 20 and care proceedings

A recent experience in court highlighted that misunderstandings still exist around s 20 of the Children Act 1989, writes Emma Griffiths, who provides a whistle-stop tour of key principles, authorities and guidance to signpost practitioners when faced with an issue about the appropriate legal framework for accommodating children who are subject to care proceedings.
March 19, 2025

Journalist attendance at Family Court hearings

Charlotte Epstein dives into the decision to allow journalists to observe and report on family court hearings. Implemented following a successful pilot, the aim is to increase public understanding and awareness of the Family Courts.
March 19, 2025

International adoption – PLWG Best Practice: A Guide

In the fourth and penultimate article in his series covering the Public Law Working Group’s recommendations for best practice for adoption, Avaia Williams considers Chapter 4 of the PLWG report on international adoptions.
March 19, 2025

Practice and procedure – PLWG Best Practice: A Guide

In the third in a series covering the Public Law Working Group’s recommendations for best practice for adoption, Avaia Williams considers Chapter 3 of the PLWG report which focuses on the practices and procedures surrounding adoption proceedings.