Judge criticises council over placing baby girl at ‘risk of significant harm’

A family court judge has decided not to name a council she criticised over its handling of a case involving a baby girl now placed for adoption.

Recorder Carly Henley said the little girl, who will soon be 12 months old, had gone into temporary council foster care a day after being born because social workers had concerns about her parents.

The judge said council social services staff had put the little girl at “risk of significant harm” by allowing her parents to have “extensive unsupervised contact” pending the outcome of family court proceedings.

She has outlined criticisms in a ruling published following a private family court hearing in Newcastle upon Tyne.

But she has decided not to name the council involved and has instead referred only to “A Local Authority”.

Recorder Henley, who did not identify the family involved, said the little girl’s mother had learning difficulties.

Another child had been taken from her care and placed for adoption two years ago.

Three children had also been taken from the little girl’s father’s care nearly 20 years ago.

The judge said social workers had become involved when the woman became pregnant with the little girl and had raised a series of concerns.

She said placement for adoption was the only realistic option for the little girl.

Recorder Henley said the case troubled her.

The judge said she was: concerned about how long proceedings had lasted; concerned that “basic safeguarding information” had not been obtained “far earlier” in proceedings; and “deeply troubled” about the “extensive and significant unsupervised contact” the little girl had with her parents while proceedings were ongoing.

She added: “The Local Authority placed (the little girl) at risk of significant harm in the care of her parents by permitting such extensive unsupervised contact.”

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