Oliver Wraight, Edward Kirkwood, Justine Ramsden and Elisabeth Wickham in Oxfordshire County Council v M & Ors [2025] EWFC 354 (B)
14th Nov 2025 | Cases
Edward Kirkwood acted for the Applicant Local Authority, Elisabeth Wickham, instructed by Boardman, Hawkins & Osborne, represented the First Respondent Mother, Oliver Wraight, instructed by the Oxford Law Group, represented the Second Respondent Father, and Justine Ramsden represented the children through their Children’s Guardian, instructed by Reeds Solicitors in Oxfordshire County Council v M & Ors [2025] EWFC 354 (B); care proceedings relating to two children, whose mother and fathers were unable to safely parent them.
The local authority commenced care proceedings in respect of two children following concerns about both parents’ capacity and safety in caring for the siblings. The proceedings significantly exceeded the 26-week statutory timetable and were extended multiple times. The parents accepted their inability to care for the children safely. No kinship placement was suitable that could keep the children together, and they were placed in early permanence foster care. The threshold under s 31 of the Children Act 1989 was agreed. The court found that the children’s welfare required placement orders for adoption and dispensed with parental consent where necessary. Detailed post-adoption contact arrangements were approved, including professional risk-assessed contact, story-work and ongoing support. Adoption was endorsed as the only realistic route to permanence for both children.
