Council to appeal after judge criticises ‘psycho-babble’ social workers
Council bosses whose social services staff were criticised by a High Court judge who ruled that a two-year-old girl should return to the care of her father and be reunited with her sister and brothers, say comment is “inappropriate” because they are mounting an appeal.
Ms Justice Russell complained that social workers at Brighton & Hove City Council had been “unprofessional” in the way they dealt with the man’s case and had talked “psycho-babble”.
The judge said she was concerned about the council’s “commitment, attitude and approach”.
She said the council had appeared “belligerent” towards the man and “by extension” his four children.
Her criticisms have emerged in a written ruling on the case following a private hearing in the Family Division of the High Court in London.
A council spokesman said today: “There is an appeal pending of the judgment in this case and it would be inappropriate to comment further.”
Ms Justice Russell said the children’s mother had mental health problems and was unable to safely care for them.
Social workers had raised welfare concerns and nearly two years ago a local family court judge had made decisions about where the children should live.
That judge had concluded that the three eldest children – a girl now 11 and boys now eight and six – should live with their father but said the little girl should be placed for adoption.
Ms Justice Russell has overturned the ruling relating to the little girl – who had been placed with prospective adopters – and said she should return home.
The judge said the council’s assessment of the man’s abilities had been “ill founded”.
She said she had been impressed by the man’s “realistic expectations” and said she believed that he had the “commitment and emotional intelligence” to support the little girl.
Ms Justice Russell had re-analysed the case after the man complained about the original ruling and won the right to appeal.
The family involved was not identified in the ruling.
“It is in the interests of (the little girl’s) welfare throughout her life that she should be reunited with her father and siblings,” said Ms Justice Russell.
“If she remains where she is all those ties with her family of origin will be lost and the advantages of being brought up within her family … will be denied her.”
She said the little girl would also be able to have contact with her mother when she returned home.
“The law … requires the authorities to put in place advice and assistance to allow a child to remain or be reunited with their family,” she added.
“I have quoted from cases above where this is set out clearly; it has been repeated time and again.”
But she added: “I remain concerned however about the commitment, attitude and approach of the local authority in this case.”
The judge said staff had demonstrated “seemingly belligerent behaviour” and taken an “oppositional stance” towards the man and “by extension his children”.
She complained of one social worker being “drudging and defensive” and said “unprofessional attempts at case building” had been “reprehensible”.
Evidence by one social worker and a manager could “only be described as psycho-babble”, said the judge.
Copyright (c) Press Association Ltd. 2015, All Rights Reserved.
