When proceedings commence because a child is ‘beyond parental control’ to what extent is it necessary or helpful to pursue in addition threshold findings that a child has also suffered significant harm as a consequence of the care they have received?

The final report of the Public Law Working Group published on 01.03.21 focused on Supervision Orders as standalone orders to assist the return of children home or to family members.

To kick start our Private Family Law Series 2024, Eléonore Berthelsen and Krishma Patel discuss barring orders under s.91(14) of the Children Act 1989.

Isabel Hawkins provides a helpful cheat sheet for practitioners and lay parties on deprivations of liberty for children.

The Court of Appeal has allowed an appeal by a mother and a father against findings made by a Family Court judge. Gemma Farrington KC explains why.

Richard Little analyses a recent case raised that complex and novel points concerning the operation of the 1996 Hague Convention in care proceedings.

Matthew Timm reports on a recent Family Court ruling on injuries caused to a young child.

Alex Ruck Keene KC (Hon) analyses another striking decision from Lieven J.

Recent efforts have been made to reduce delay in public law Children Act proceedings. However, parents and families are faced with increasingly stretched public resources, including those available on the NHS. In many cases, the therapy with which the family are advised to engage is simply not available within the Court timetable. Francesca Massarella asks how a fair result can be achieved for a…

Joshua Swirsky discusses a case where Upper Tribunal Judge Smith once again had to consider the balance of convenience in an age assessment case when interim relief is sought.

Rebecca Davies outlines some of the potential issues arising from a controversial pilot scheme

Could AI help the family justice system in England and Wales? Aliya Saied-Tessier looks at the issues.

A High Court judge recently refused an application by an adoptive mother for adoption orders to be revoked. Mark Cooper-Hall examines the ruling.

Richard Harrington analyses two common issues which arise within care proceedings relating to unaccompanied asylum-seeking children: notification to foreign authorities; and threshold.

Stephen Williams looks at the importance of the welfare analysis in public law proceedings being objectively fair.

The Upper Tribunal recently considered the correct approach to interim relief in age assessment cases. Joshua Swirsky analyses the ruling.

The former president of the Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS), John Pearce, speaks to Local Government Lawyer about the issues which have dominated the sector in his recent tenure.

A recent decision by the Court of Appeal serves as a reminder of the importance in fact-finding hearings of the evidence of lay parties being considered alongside that given by medical experts, writes Matthew Fiddy.

Justin Gray examines the care planning requirements necessary for placements in Scotland to meet the Care Inspectorate requirements.

Alex Ruck Keene KC (Hon) looks at a High Court judge's careful approach to the presumption of capacity in relation to the mother in a case about end of life treatment for one of her twin sons.