Perspectives on Care Proceedings – Law and Social Work

Join our next social work seminar series delivered by Dr Adrienne Barnett and Susanna Daus BEM. 

Abstract

This workshop will explore current law and contemporary issues in child care proceedings from the perspectives of the primary parties involved – the parents, the child and the state (children’s social care). Dr Adrienne Barnett will briefly outline the relevant law, and consider the challenges involved in representing parents who face the permanent removal of their children from their care. Susanna Daus BEM will explore topical issues and challenges facing children’s social care in such proceedings. The subjects that will be examined include expert witnesses, family contact, cultural factors and timescales. The workshop will, in particular, explore the controversial way in which the use of Special Guardianship has developed in recent years.

Speaker biographies

Dr Adrienne Barnett

Adrienne Barnett is a Lecturer in Law at Brunel University London (and from 1 October 2018, Senior Lecturer). She teaches Family Law, Children and the Law and Land Law. Her specialist area of research is private family law cases where domestic abuse is an issue, in which she has conducted qualitative and quantitative research which has been published widely since 2000. She is a member of the Advisory Group of Rights of Women and of Women’s Aid’s Expert Advisory Group to the ‘Child First’ campaign. Prior to commencing teaching at Brunel Law School in January 2014, Adrienne practised as a family law barrister at the self-employed Bar for over 30 years. For the last 20 years of her practice, she specialised in representing parents and children in serious public law cases.

Susanna Daus BEM

Susanna Daus BEM is a Senior children’s services manager who has specialised in fostering and adoption since 1988. She has worked for the London Borough of Islington for 13 years. Susanna is also a Board Trustee of Fostering  Network, the leading charity for foster care. She has been involved in a number of DFE advisory groups. Susanna has particular interests in ensuring the best placements  are available  and the complexities of family and friends care during and following proceedings. Susanna was recently given a British Empire Medal in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in recognition of her outstanding work in fostering and adoption.