Inflicted Injuries in Care Proceedings - What Needs to be Proven & How to Challenge the Evidence

Introduction

In many care cases, the issue of children suffering serious physical harm (including broken/fractured bones) and serious sexual abuse is pivotal in the case. The consequences of such findings are long-lasting: either meaning that children cannot be returned to their parents' care at all or even leading to the CPS deciding to instigate criminal proceedings against the accused.

Practitioners representing parents within this field need a thorough understanding of the law within this area, including what needs to be proven and how best to challenge the evidence. Practitioners also need to understand what can be done to reunite families even when findings may be made and the importance of the resolutions approach in that regard.

What You Will Learn

This live and interactive session will cover the following:

• An overview of the relevant standard of proof including an understanding of the issue of inherent improbabilities and the binary system
• An overview of the law surrounding the quality of evidence with consideration of the court’s guidance around primary evidence, hearsay evidence, memory issues and lies
• The law surrounding identification of a perpetrator and a pool finding including consideration of the consequences of a pool finding
• The weight to be attached to expert evidence and how best to challenge this evidence
• An overview of the resolutions approach and the issue of when reunification within families may be possible even when findings are made

Recording of live sessions: Soon after the Learn Live session has taken place you will be able to go back and access the recording - should you wish to revisit the material discussed.