Increase In Local Authorities Issuing Care Proceedings During Covid-19

Prior to the Government imposed coronavirus lockdown, the Court system was struggling to process the ever increasing care proceedings applications issued by Local Authorities.

What Effect has Lockdown had on the Court System?

Cases involving vulnerable children will always be prioritised by the court system but the recent pandemic places further pressure on an already stretched judicial system.

Evidence is slowly emerging that since March 2020, and the start of the lockdown, there has been an increase in urgent applications seeking the removal of children from their parents care.

The Increased Pressure on Family Life from Enforced Lockdown

Local Authorities must always exercise their judgment when considering how they can and should protect children. However, families have been placed under additional stress and pressure during the government enforced lockdown period. The change in behaviour, a rise in domestic abuse and violence, an increase in alcohol consumption by carers and money worries due to lack of employment and unknown future employment opportunities have had an effect.

Social Workers Unable to Support Families due to Covid-19

Local Authority Coronavirus Policies in many cases have stopped face to face working with families and children by social workers. This has placed further pressure on their staff to carry out any positive preventative work where the wellbeing and safety of children is at risk and safeguarding issues have been identified.

The Future?

As lockdown becomes the new normal and we are forever told that these are unprecedented times, what will the future look like for care proceedings and the family judicial system? Can we expect a wave of new cases being issued by local authorities once restrictions are lifted that allow social workers once again to carry out their statutory duties? Will the court system continue with remote hearings for specific cases to ease the pressure on an already overloaded resource? One thing is for sure – we will all have to embrace the ‘new normal ‘ as things will never be the same again.

Tessa Dunleavy
May 2020