Archive for November, 2014

In a landmark case, parents with learning disabilities who were separated from their baby daughter for over a year whilst social workers dragged their feet have won £12,000 in damages after the local authority admitted violating their human rights. Both parents were highly vulnerable, and medical professionals had no idea that the mother was pregnant before she gave birth. It was unclear whether she had concealed her pregnancy or was genuinely unaware that she was having a baby. However, social workers decided that the little girl – H – was ‘at risk of significant harm’ and the couple were prevented from taking her home from the hospital. H was placed with a couple the mother knew and there she remained for month after month. All the while, the parents – who only had a ‘basic’ understanding of what was happening – were ... Read more