H-C (Finding of Fact: Rehearing), Re

Jane Cross QC and Alison Woodward (instructed by Lancashire County Council) for the Applicant Frank Feehan QC and Kathryn Korol (instructed by Birchall Blackburn LLP) for Ms H Karl Rowley QC and Lorraine Cavanagh (instructed by Forbes Solicitors) for Mr C Leon Stringer (instructed by Vincents Solicitors) for Mr B (for judgment only) Susan Grocott QC and Peter Rothery (instructed by Cooper Nimmo Solicitors) for the Children Hearing dates: 11 - 28 October 2016 Judgment date: 28 October 2016 ____________________

The relationship between Ms H and Mr C was characterised by frequent domestic violence and instability:

Ms H and Mr C were dishonest with the Local Authority and other professionals (including substance misuse services) engaged in providing them with support to meet the welfare needs of the children.

(2) Both parents are vulnerable individuals. The main responsibility for the children fell upon Ms H. When he was in a fit state, Mr C was able to support her, taking on all of the childcare tasks to some extent. But all too often, his behaviour added to Ms H's own difficulties, leading to repeated breakdowns in the children's family life.

(6) The social worker considered it to have been understood that Mr C was not to be having unsupervised overnight contact, despite what she felt to be the generally positive way in which his life was going. Both Ms H and Mr C have said that they thought that he was "off supervision" in the week before A's death. I am doubtful that they really believed that, as opposed to persuading themselves that they believed it, but even though it can now be seen as tragic that Mr C was unsupervised, this issue adds little to the overall assessment of the parents' level of engagement.