Council must keep contact with child

Contact with a child cannot be stopped because the child’s former
foster carer has failed to work in partnership with professional
staff and in accordance with the care plan, the local government
ombudsman has ruled.

The ombudsman said councils must be specific about risk of harm to
children’s welfare and have evidence to back decisions to end
contact.

The ruling was made as part of an adjudication against Bradford
Council, which was found guilty of maladministration causing
injustice following a complaint by the former foster carer of a
child with learning difficulties.

Bradford was ordered to re-establish contact between the child, his
sister, and his former carer; to pay the foster carer £500;
and to provide £700 for the child’s benefit.

– Ruling at www.lgo.org.uk