A, B & C (Children) (Care and Placement), Re

Facts

The London Borough of [X] applied for care and placement orders in respect of three children: A (aged 11), B (aged 8), and C (aged 4). The family had a long history of Children's Social Care involvement dating back to 2016, with concerns of chronic neglect, poor home conditions, non-attendance at school, unmet health needs, parental substance misuse and the mother's difficulty working openly with professionals. A and B had been subject to two Child Protection Plans between 2019 and 2023, and C was made subject to a plan as an unborn baby. Earlier proceedings concerning the three children and a younger sibling, D, concluded on 14 November 2024, when His Honour Judge Willans made a 12-month supervision order for A, B and C, who remained with their mother, and a care order for D, with a rehabilitation plan for D. Progress stalled, the local authority ended D's rehabilitation plan, and on 11 February 2026 the judge made a placement order for D. Fresh proceedings were issued for A, B and C; an interim care order was made at the first hearing on 19 January 2026. Hair strand testing during these proceedings showed cannabis and cocaine at high levels for the mother, and high cocaine levels for father to C. Parenting assessments of both parents were negative and unchallenged.