In the matter of Z (Care Order)

In this case, all of the parties, other than the father, were in agreement both that the threshold had been met and with the care plan put forward by the Minister, essentially that the child, who is aged two, should remain within the family under the care of his paternal grandfather and with the safeguard of a final care order. The father, who does not have parental responsibility, had disengaged from the child and the process.

The child remained in the maternal grandmother's care until February 2013 when both mother and the maternal grandmother requested that he be placed in foster care. The maternal grandmother has a daughter with learning difficulties, and she and her partner felt that they were not in a position to care for the child long term.

Dr Caritt-Baker's report on the mother did not rule her out as a carer for the child but emphasised the importance of psychological interventions to allow her to care for the child without posing a risk to him. He advised that the interventions would be relevant to both her general well-being and her alcohol use.

Based on this advice, at a hearing on 20 th May, 2013, the Minister sought an adjournment of the final hearing in order to allow the mother to engage in this therapeutic process. Unfortunately the mother did not do so.

The Children's Service did not proceed with a Connected Persons' Assessment of the maternal grandmother and her partner. Whilst it was acknowledged that they would continue to play a significant role in the child's life, it was as grandparents (as they had requested) not as carers. The paternal grandfather was recommended for approval as a kinship carer at the Fostering Panel meeting on 9 th October, 2013, and the child was placed with him on 7 th November, 2013.