Deborah Piccos, one of our senior Children Panel Accredited solicitors, has recently been involved in the interesting case of Re J, G And H (Children: Supervision Orders) [2021] EWHC 884 (Fam) (29 March 2021). This case was heard in the High Court over 11 days in March 2021, where Deborah represented a competent child, who was separately represented from the children’s guardian in the case. This case involved complex care proceedings relating to three children, where the father attacked the mother many years previously and she had suffered significant injuries. The Local Authority sought removal of the children into foster care as they were concerned that the mother could not protect the children and herself from any possible future risk from the father. Mr Justice Poole made reference in his Judgment to the new Public Law Working Group, Best Practice Guidance: The Application and Case Management, March 2021. This guidance states that there should be “exceptional reasons” for a court to make a care order on the basis of a plan for the child or children to remain in the care of their parents or carers. The Judge concluded that the children’s welfare would be best served by remaining with their mother. The guardian sought care orders for two of the children, whilst they remain at home in their mother’s care, but following consideration of the Guidance the Judge decided that the three children should remain with their mother under 12 month Supervision Orders.
