Mary Hughes represented the father throughout proceedings before HHJ Mary Robertson at the Central Family Court, instructed by Forida Hakim of Duncan Lewis solicitors. The father assisted by his parents who had come from abroad, was caring in the family home for his 7 year old son and older siblings. The mother was in supported accommodation having spent long periods in hospital with psychosis and sickle cell disease was having only supervised contact.

Against the advice of an independent psychiatrist, an ISW and the guardian, the LA proposed that at the conclusion of the hearing, the next day, the father and his parents should move out and the mother should resume care of her son. The social worker made considerable concessions in cross examination but the LA continued with its plan. Most unattractively they pitted the father against the mother although there was no evidence that he could not care to a good enough standard.

As the judge said the father held a dream that in the future the parents could again co-parent. The judge found that there was a failure in management in this case, asked for a statement from the Head of Children’s Services and refused to sign of on a SO with the child remaining with the father and mother continuing to have supervised contact until eighteen points were addressed in relation to a supervision support plan. She ordered the case should be published naming the local authority, Hackney. Continue reading here.