IS THIS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CHILD-DEFINATELY NOT

[Alison J Stevens]

http://www.familylawweek.co.uk/site.aspx?i=ed56977

http://www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/fears-over-child-care-lawyer-shortage.

There is a shortage of qualified children’s panel Solicitors that represent
both parents and Local Authorities in Public Law Care Proceedings, states the
law gazette, also highlighted on the family law week website.
Many Social Services Departments are using unqualified staff and paralegals
with regards to their increase in instigating care proceedings via the family
court arena.
Care Proceedings have risen alarmingly since the baby Peter tragedy within
Haringey and other failings up and down the Country, resulting in the death of
vulnerable children.
It is basic common sense that if unqualified staff is being used to plan the
future of our children, mistakes will occur, resulting in possibility of children
being left at risk of abuse, or possibly in the minority of cases, children
being wrongly taken into care and suffering the heartache of forced adoption,
and miscarriages of justice.
The welfare of our children is being let down ten fold by Local Authorities
using these individuals and in most cases parents will not have the knowledge
or means to question the qualifications, of who they are fighting against.
The whole of the family court arena is in disarray, with cases waiting many
weeks for Guardian ad litem`s to be appointed, the situation is getting no
better and I despair for my clients, by a system that is not and never will be
working in the best interest of the child.

Value-justice.