Mother fights to gain acces to files

A mother who hopes to win back guardianship of her son is
fighting Plymouth Council’s decision to prevent her from gaining
access to social services files.

Her son, now aged 27, has acute learning, behavioural and
emotional problems. She lost custody of him after he was made
subject to a local authority guardianship order three years ago
when it was decided that he was an adult at risk because of his
aggressive and overtly sexual behaviour.

His mother wants access to medical reports and recommendations
on which the guardianship order was based as well as his social
services files.

Alan Maclean, representing the council, said that the woman
understandably wanted her son to live at home. But this view was
“simply not shared by any of the professionals involved in his
care”.

She had chosen not to exercise her right as her son’s nearest
relative to discharge his guardianship, which would require no
legal proceedings, he added.

Murray Hunt, for the mother, said she had not done this out of
fear that the council would respond with a court application to
overturn her legal status as her son’s nearest relative.

Mr Justice Maurice Kay has reserved his decision.