The mother had two children but the father had left. Referrals were made over a long period with regard to her drug abuse and violence. She then had a child by a sixteen year old boy. The two older children were placed with their father under interim orders, and the youngest was fostered. The judge then made final orders for the two older children in favour of the father. The authority propsed adotion for the baby. The mother was to retain limited contact with all three. The judge made only an interim order for the baby because of the possibility of the mother improving. The authority and guardian appealed.
Held: The appeal succeeded, and a final order made. There was no realistic alternative to care orders. The three month adjournment could achieve little when the expert reports anticipated that two years would be required. Two years in care would be too long. Contact was for the local authority to sort out.
Citations:
[1998] 2 FLR 390
Statutes:
Jurisdiction:
England and Wales
Children
Updated: 13 November 2022; Ref: scu.228027
