News Essentials: 14th November 2020

A brief summary of the essential family law news and cases from the last week: 

NEWS

What about me?: Reframing Support for Families following Parental Separation
A report by the Family Solutions Group, entitled What about me?: Reframing Support for Families following Parental Separation, has been published. Full story: Courts and Tribunals Judiciary.

Three in four family justice professionals say work-related pressures rose in lockdown
A thousand practitioners respond to Resolution wellbeing survey so far. Full story: Family Law Week.

Top family judge publishes guidance on protection of domestic abuse victims in remote and hybrid hearings
The President of the Family Division, Sir Andrew McFarlane, has published guidance on the need to protect victims of domestic abuse in remote and hybrid hearings. Full story: Local Government Lawyer.

COVID-19: HMCTS publishes Civil, Family & Tribunals Recovery Plan
Detailed plan outlines how the civil and family courts, and our tribunals are increasing capacity to hear cases and maintain operations during COVID-19. Full story: HM Courts & Tribunals Service.

Child protection at heart of courts review
Review will examine how courts balance child safety and right to family life. Full story: Ministry of Justice.

Lockdown sees 20 per cent rise in serious incident notifications involving under 1s
Ofsted's Chief Inspector warns of increased violence to babies. Full story: Family Law Week.

Ofsted report highlights need to get matching right
While recruiting enough foster carers to meet demand is vital, more could be done to make sure matches with children are successful, new Ofsted research finds. Full story: Family Law Week.

Changes to Family Procedure Rules Practice Directions
The latest Practice Direction Update Document amends four Practice Directions supplementing the Family Procedure Rules 2010. Full story: Family Law Week.

Family Justice Council Forum 14 December 2020
Assessing Risk of Harm to Children and Parents in Private Law Children Cases. Full story: Family Law Week.

CASES

S (Fact-Finding) [2020] EWFC 71 (28 August 2020)
Fact-finding hearing in care proceedings. Held that the local authority had not proved their case in respect of the various findings sought. Full report: Bailii.

K (Children: Placement Orders), Re [2020] EWCA (Civ) 1503 (12 November 2020)
Appeal by mother from care and placement orders made in respect of three children. Appeal allowed. Full report: Bailii.

IC v RC [2020] EWHC 2997 (Fam) (12 November 2020)
Appeal by husband against amendment of maintenance order under slip rule. Appeal dismissed. Full report: Bailii. See also my short note, here.

A Local Authority v W & Ors (Finding of Fact Hearing) [2020] EWFC 68 (12 November 2020)
Fact-finding hearing in care proceedings concerning two children. Full report: Bailii.

Z, Re (A Child: Deprivation of Liberty: Transition Plan) [2020] EWHC 3038 (Fam) (12 November 2020)
Application by local authority for permission to invoke the inherent jurisdiction in order that a young person might be deprived of their liberty in order to convey them from their family home to a residential school. Full report: Bailii.

Akhmedova v Akhmedov & Ors [2020] EWHC 3006 (Fam) (04 November 2020)
Return date of search order and forensic imaging order made in long-running proceedings relating to the enforcement of a financial remedies order. Full report: Bailii.

Akhmedova v Akhmedov & Ors [2020] EWHC 3005 (Fam) (28 October 2020)
Application by wife for search order in long-running proceedings concerning the enforcement of a financial remedies order. Full report: Bailii.

P (Discharge of Passport Order), Re [2020] EWHC 3009 (Fam) (06 November 2020)
Application by father to discharge order requiring him to hand over his, and child's, passports. Full report: Bailii.

X (A Child), Re [2020] EWHC 3003 (Fam) (29 October 2020)
Application by NHS Trust for authority to administer blood transfusion to 15 year-old girl, against her profound religious beliefs as a Jehovah's Witness. Authority given. Full report: Bailii.

Y (A Child), Re [2019] EWCA Civ 2209 (Rev 1) (12 December 2019)
Appeal by local authority against order that they were to be the designated local authority in relation to care proceedings. Appeal dismissed. Full report: Bailii.