(Queen's Bench Division; Eady J; 13 December 2007)

The child sought damages from the local authority, claiming that he had been returned to the care of his parents by the social services department without proper assessment, that there had been inadequate follow-up and monitoring of his situation, and that he had suffered severe neglect and emotional and physical abuse.

The local authority had fallen short of the standard of practice to be expected of a reasonably competent local authority and had been negligent; no reasonable social work department would have returned the child to parental care in the circumstances. The child was awarded £25,000 general damages.