Chloe Wilkins, Alex Perry, Elisabeth Wickham and Oliver Powell in Oxfordshire County Council v M & Ors [2026] EWFC 92 (B)
28th Apr 2026 | Cases
Chloe Wilkins acted for the Applicant Local Authority, Alex Perry, instructed by Jackson West Solicitors, acted for A the Third Respondent, Elisabeth Wickham, instructed by Oxford Law Group, acted for B & C (children), and Oliver Powell, instructed by Boardman, Hawkins and Osborne Solicitors, acted for M, First Respondent in Oxfordshire County Council v M & Ors [2026] EWFC 92 (B); care proceedings relating to three children, issued following concerns of neglect.
This final hearing concerned A, B and C, who had suffered chronic neglect, including poor home conditions, unmet hygiene needs, dental and medical neglect, disrupted education and emotional harm. The local authority sought final care orders with long-term foster care plans. The father sought care of all three children and made a late application for an independent social work (ISW) assessment. The mother accepted she could not resume care and supported placement with the father.
The court found threshold proved, including that the father had been aware of the neglect and failed to take effective steps to protect the children. His evidence as to his knowledge of the home conditions was not accepted. The court refused the late ISW assessment, finding it unnecessary and likely to cause further delay.
Although the children loved their parents and A wished to return home, the court found the father lacked sufficient insight into the harm caused and could not provide the reparative parenting the children needed. Final care orders were made, endorsing long-term foster care plans, with continuing contact between the children, their parents and siblings.
