To all care lawyers:

There is an important post on The Transparency Project telling you about a new pilot that is running in Head Injury cases in Birmingham Sheffield and Manchester. When I say new, apparently its been live since April, not that anybody has been properly informed before launch, or even consulted on the design.

As you will see from the article, and the linked pieces in the Gazette and Local Government Lawyer, there is huge concern being expressed by big hitters in head injury cases, that this will cause potential injustice to families (such as wrongful permanent removal and adoption) and / or will just be counterproductive of the scheme’s aims to reduce delay and cost. Reducing delay is of course in the interests of families – these cases take far too long and the wait is agnonising. But no parent wants the wrong outcome quickly. They’d far rather have the right outcome done slowly. And we might reasonably assume that the wishes and feelings of children would be similar.

So, watch this space. As much information as there is on the pilot is on or linked to from the Transparency Project blog, so check back. I imagine things may develop quickly after the election next week, not least through the Family Justice Council open meeting scheduled for 22 July, where questions will inevitably be asked, and when the answers to FOIA requests and questions from the FLBA and ALC are answered.

The FLBA are asking members involved in these cases to get in touch.

You can read the post here:

https://transparencyproject.org.uk/controversial-suspected-inflicted-head-injuries-pilot-launched-lawyers-raise-concern-about-lack-of-consultation-and-potential-unfairness/