Acting for father in care proceedings

Care proceedings involving seven subject children aged between 15 and 4 years old all with same parents.

Interim care orders made at outset of proceedings. Children placed in three separate foster care placements. 26 weeks already exceeded and been extended.

Substantial involvement with the family by local authority children services for many years with concerns about global neglect, parent’s mental health and, at times, drug misuse.

Assessments have included psychiatric, psychological and parenting assessments of the parents, hair strand tests for drugs, viability assessments of possible alternative carers, a psychological assessment of the children and a sibling assessment.

The LA’s final care plans include a possible alternative placement for the oldest child, long term foster care for the next four children, but in two different placements, and adoption for the youngest two, hopefully together, but with a parallel plan for long term foster care if no adoptive placement can be found within a limited specified time.

The parents, who are not together, both oppose the local authority’s  plans for all the children, in particular the two youngest and the plan for adoption