England and Wales County Court (Family)

Her Honour Judge H:

I am dealing today with an application by X Local Authority for a care order in respect of a little girl, CED, who was born on 10th February 2008.  C was removed from her mother’s care on 14th October 2008 due to concerns, largely at that stage about the mother’s consumption of alcohol and its impact upon her parenting of the child.

It is right to say that the mother has undergone various assessments, has co-operated with the Local Authority and has worked very hard to secure the return of C to her care.  That was accomplished just before Christmas, and I am told that the reunification and rehabilitation of mother and child has gone very well, so that the standard of care which the mother is now giving to C is acceptable and the Local Authority is satisfied that the child should remain in the care of her mother.

The Local Authority seek a care order so that they can monitor and support the placement of C with her mother.  I shall make a final care order today, placing C in the care of X Local Authority, but of course remaining physically in the care of her mother. 

It would be wrong of me not to commend the mother in this case for working with the Local Authority to secure the child’s return to her care.  The proceedings have been quite protracted, and have had to be because various assessments have had to be carried out, but the mother has co-operated both with the social worker and with the foster carer and, indeed, with the Guardian, Mrs K.  So I make the final care order.  I commend the mother for her commitment to the child and I hope that things continue to go well for them.  I make no order for costs, save for public funding assessment.