Parents ‘extraordinary progress’ sees council review decision on removing children

Council social services bosses have changed their minds about taking four children from their parents’ care, a judge has said.

Three had been earmarked for adoption and one placed with a carer under a special guardianship order, following family court litigation, after social workers raised concerns about the parents’ use of drugs and alcohol.

But Judge Karen Venables says social services staff have “reflected” after the parents made “extraordinary progress”.

She says council bosses are “now open” to the four youngsters living at home.

The judge has outlined the latest developments in the case in a written ruling published following a private family court hearing in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire.

She indicated that both parents had experienced drug and alcohol problems.

But she said they had made “extraordinary progress” since family court litigation began and “achieved abstinence”.

The judge said the children could not be identified in media reports of the case.

She said staff at Oxfordshire County Council had responsibility for the children’s welfare and had launched family court proceedings.

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