P, J, E-R, E-L (Children : Care Orders)

This judgment was delivered in private. The judge has given leave for this version of the judgment to be published on condition that (irrespective of what is contained in the judgment) in any published version of the judgment the anonymity of the child and members of her family must be strictly preserved. All persons, including representatives of the media, must ensure that this condition is strictly complied with. Failure to do so will be a contempt of court.

      I am concerned with four children: P who is 6, J who is rising 5, E-R who is 3 and E-Lwho is 2.

      The Application is dated 16.7.20 and is for a care order for all four children. On 11.11.21 the Local Authority made a placement order application with respect to all four children.

      The children have been subject to interim care orders since 17.7.20. They have lived away from their parents during this time, cared for by foster carers, P and J, the elder two together, and E-R and E-L together.

      The First Respondent is the Mother of all four children. The second Respondent is the Father of all four children, although he does not have parental responsibility for E-L. The parents were in a relationship with each other certainly between 2016 and 2019.