LR v (1) a local authority (2) a mother (3) a father (4) RP (by her children’s guardian) (2019)

Following a successful appeal by a foster carer against a care order relating to a child in her care, the foster carer applied for payment of her costs by the first respondent local authority and Cafcass.

The court had criticised the local authority and the children’s guardian for conduct such as failing to correct the judge’s misstatement at an earlier hearing that the child “must move”, failing to ensure that the assessment of the foster carer as a prospective adopter was concluded before the hearing, making a final recommendation before seeing all the evidence, failing to file a supplemental report setting out a change of position, and failing to refer to the possibility of adoption by the foster carer in the final position statement.

To read the full judgment click here