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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Girl wins damages over taken baby | Girl wins damages over taken baby |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Nottingham City Council has agreed to pay damages to an 18-year-old mother after taking away her newborn baby. | Nottingham City Council has agreed to pay damages to an 18-year-old mother after taking away her newborn baby. |
| The local authority admitted at the High Court in Liverpool that it had acted unlawfully. | The local authority admitted at the High Court in Liverpool that it had acted unlawfully. |
| The boy was taken from his mother by social workers in Nottingham on 30 January, but was returned after a judge ruled officials had no right to do so. | The boy was taken from his mother by social workers in Nottingham on 30 January, but was returned after a judge ruled officials had no right to do so. |
| The baby boy was returned into social services care following a hearing on 1 February in Nottingham. | The baby boy was returned into social services care following a hearing on 1 February in Nottingham. |
| The council had claimed the mother's troubled childhood and mental health problems had threatened the baby's welfare. | The council had claimed the mother's troubled childhood and mental health problems had threatened the baby's welfare. |
| 'Personal advisor' | 'Personal advisor' |
| Her solicitor Ash Bhatai said the council had 14 days to agree a damages figure or the case would return to Mr Justice Munby, who would issue a judgment at an unspecified date. | Her solicitor Ash Bhatai said the council had 14 days to agree a damages figure or the case would return to Mr Justice Munby, who would issue a judgment at an unspecified date. |
| Her problems are deep-seated and long-standing and likely to require appropriate support and assistance for some time in the future Mr Justice Munby | Her problems are deep-seated and long-standing and likely to require appropriate support and assistance for some time in the future Mr Justice Munby |
| Before the two sides agreed to compromise, Nottingham City Council planned to argue the mother had not objected to her baby being removed. | Before the two sides agreed to compromise, Nottingham City Council planned to argue the mother had not objected to her baby being removed. |
| But Mr Justice Munby said the fact she did not object did not mean she consented. | But Mr Justice Munby said the fact she did not object did not mean she consented. |
| The authority also admitted the mother was not given proper care and should have been offered an independent "personal adviser". | The authority also admitted the mother was not given proper care and should have been offered an independent "personal adviser". |
| But the court heard the teenager's adviser also worked for the council and "had feet in both camps". | But the court heard the teenager's adviser also worked for the council and "had feet in both camps". |
| The council also agreed to look at how personal advisers were used for all people in its care. | The council also agreed to look at how personal advisers were used for all people in its care. |
| Nottingham City Council will also reimburse the mother for a loss of benefits and pay her £110 per week until 17 March when she might be admitted to an assessment centre. | Nottingham City Council will also reimburse the mother for a loss of benefits and pay her £110 per week until 17 March when she might be admitted to an assessment centre. |
| Mr Justice Munby had described the teenager as possibly being at a "turning point in her life". | Mr Justice Munby had described the teenager as possibly being at a "turning point in her life". |
| He said: "Her problems are deep-seated and long-standing and likely to require appropriate support and assistance for some time in the future." | He said: "Her problems are deep-seated and long-standing and likely to require appropriate support and assistance for some time in the future." |
| A legal source said the case was now delicately balanced, with it likely that the teenager and her child would be reunited soon in a mother and baby unit. | A legal source said the case was now delicately balanced, with it likely that the teenager and her child would be reunited soon in a mother and baby unit. |