Time 4 Me, May 2009 7
ARE YOUR CHILDREN
AT RISK? B y A s h a S u m p u t hH e a d o f F a m i l y & R e l a t i o n s h i p s a t G l a z e r D e l m a r S o l i c i t o r s
oyou feel that Social Services have too much say in what
happens in your family? If so, we at Glazer Delmar
Solicitorsbelieve we can help.D
In the past few months we have noticed sum in compensation.
an increasing number of clients The couple’s son and two daughterswere
contacting us with concerns about social taken from them and placed with
services involvementwiththeir lives. We separate foster families. The court was
have been successful in assisting those told that therehad never been any
clients and letting them have asay in evidence that the children,now aged 14,
fighting for their children’s rights. 11 and 9, had been abused. As aresult of
The recent case of Baby PinHaringey the social workers’ actions, the parents
has caused asignificant rise in the missed their children’s birthdays,
number of careapplications. According to Christmases and their first days in new
statistics therehave been 369 requests, schools.
compared to 292 in the same period last The parents wereunder suspicion of
year –a26% rise. The number of children sexually abusing their children and the
taken into careonthe grounds of alleged children weretaken into care. Asecond
abuse and neglect has morethan doubled doctor confirmedthe evidence of abuse
in the last decade from 1300 to 2800 last and the couple wererestricted to
year.While thereisoften arise in supervised weekly visits to their children.
applications after ahigh profile case, the They werevindicated after aUSexpert in
impact of Baby Phas been child abuse examined the evidence and
unprecedented. Many parents have now disputed the claims by the British
seen an active interestbysocial services doctors, who subsequently accepted that
in their day-to-day lives and their they had been mistaken. The council
capabilities of caring for their children. conceded that the children should never
However,fears remain that the sharp had been taken from their parents.
readiness by the state to act could lead to The judge had commented “It is
some children obtaining agreater degree undoubtedly true that social services
of protection and lead to defensive departments have in recent years
practice which can lead to “unnecessary operated with inadequate resourcesand
and risk-averse interventions” which can under immensestressand run the risk of
harm children and families. attracting equal criticism whether they
Haringey,the council at fault in the cases remove achild or whether they do not.” consider.Removal of achild from afamily
of Baby Pand Victoria Climbié, is among The effect of what has happened to this should always be the last resort. However,on
the authorities facing claims overits past family will continue to be felt for along
many occasions you meet afamily wherenofailings. After the publicity over Baby P,
time but at least this now marks the end alternatives weregiven or discussed beforewho died of abuse despite 60 visits by
of four years spent by the parents fighting removing the child/children from their home.health and social services professionals,
for their children and their rights before If you areaparentand feel that you havetwo families have recently come forward
the court. done no harm to your children (and thereissaying that Haringey left them to suffer
Local authorities arenow under aduty to an explanation to your children’s situation)sexual abuse.
carry out assessments and give clear then you should always seek legal advice asRecently therehas been acase wherea
information to parents about their careproceedings arevery daunting andcouple whose three children spent two
intentions beforeproceedings have been without proper representation and legalyears in carebecause social workers
issued. Thereare lists of principles thatwrongly believed that they wereatrisk of advice youmay find yourself facing the
the local authorities and the court shouldabuse have been awardeda“six-figure” serious risk of losing your children.
CONTACTUSNOWA s h a S u m p u t h glazer delmarH e a d o f F a m i l y & R e l a t i o n s h i p s D e p a r t m e n tG l a z e r D e l m a r S o l i c i t o r s2 2 3 - 2 2 9 R y e L a n e , L o n d o n S E 1 5 4 T Z
solicitorsT e l : 0 2 0 7 6 3 9 8 8 0 1
making adifferencee m a i l : f a m i l y a n d r e l a t i o n s h i p s @ g l a z e r d e l m a r . c o mw w w . g l a z e r d e l m a r . c o m
TIME 4 ME 007 May 2009
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