OCC v W

THE FAMILY COURT SITTING AT OXFORD 24th June 2019 To 25th June 2019 B e f o r e :

Ms Wilkins, Counsel, for OCC Ms Gibbons, Solicitor, for the First Respondent Mother, M Ms Georges, Counsel, for the Second Respondent Father, F2 Ms Scarano, Counsel, for the Third Respondent, acting through their Children's Guardian ____________________

These care proceedings concern one child, A, who is aged 9 months old. M is his mother and F2 is his father. Proceedings were issued on 29 th September 2018 and an interim care order was made at the first hearing on 8 th October 2018. A has been in the care of his mother throughout proceedings, and indeed throughout his life to date. Initially this was in a mother and baby foster placement, and since 16 th January 2019 he has been with his mother in the community.

M was previously married to the father (F1) of her two older children, B and C (now aged 8 and 4 years respectively). The family were known to social services from 2011 because of concerns around domestic violence, the mother's mental health and neglect of the children's basic needs, including the provision of food, adequate supervision and adequate stimulation for the girls. The family was monitored and supported by a long-standing Team Around the Family which was managed by B's school.

Following B and C leaving their mother's care it came to light that she was pregnant with a due date in September 2018. During her pregnancy there were concerns about the mother's presentation, with concerns being raised about her mental health and about her physical appearance in which she did not look healthy or well-kept. The mother failed to attend two appointments with a psychologist, Dr Yusef, during her pregnancy and was discharged as a result. Professionals queried the possibility of substance misuse due to her presentation, which was denied by the mother at the time.