Representing a child in Care Proceedings

Melanie acted for a 15 year old with subtle but far-reaching speech and language difficulties.

The child had very poor impulse control, low inhibitions, repeatedly self-harmed and absconded from both home and foster care placements.

In an extreme decision the child was placed into a Detention Centre for her own safety for 6 months overall, and was then finally rehabilitated to her mother and father’s shared care (the parents had separated).

The child’s father was a traveller and so there were various cultural issues involved with the case which equired high levels of sensitivity, people skills and informed advice. The case involved working very closely with the guardian and the guardian’s solicitor in and out of court.