Sheffield City Council v The Mother & Ors [2025] EWFC 255 (B)
[1]The mother has poor physical health and issues with her mental health which impact adversely upon her ability to provide consistently stable and good enough parenting to her children. This places the children at risk of physical and emotional harm and neglect. The mother has been diagnosed with depression and anxiety. There has been local authority support and involvement with the children since the expiration of the supervision order in previous proceedings under case number SE21C00746, as the mother has not been able to manage care of the children without significant support.[2]There is a history of domestic abuse and violence within the relationship between the mother and [Father 2], the father of Bella and Carl. Witnessing any domestic abuse has caused the children emotional harm, fear and distress.[3]In [date redacted] June 2024, the mother refused to collect the children from school, complaining that she was too ill. Arrangements had to be made for the children to be cared for at a neighbour's home. This will have caused the children to be anxious and distressed.[4]The mother has requested on occasion for the children to be placed in foster care due to feeling too unwell to be able to care for them safely. However, when assessed by medical professionals, health issues cannot be identified. The mother's issues and repeated requests for the children to be placed in foster care place them at risk of anxiety and emotional harm. The mother has also asked for a support worker to care for the children a couple of hours each day after school and for transport for the children to be taken to and from school. There is the likelihood the mother is not able to meet the children's needs on a consistent basis and she is too preoccupied with her own issues. This places the children at risk of neglect and emotional and physical harm.[5]The children are made aware by the mother that she wishes for them to be placed in foster care, and this places them at risk of significant emotional harm.[6]On [date redacted] November 2024 and on [date redacted] November 2024 the mother made it clear that she cannot be expected to care for her children 24/7 and that she needs to recuperate. She is not able to meet the needs of her children consistently and this places them at risk of neglect and physical and emotional harm. She has also approached the local authority for support with sorting out her debts and passports for the children, an indication that the mother is not able to manage issues for herself let alone for the children.[7]On [date redacted] November 2024 the mother presented the children at school and asked for social care to care for her children. It was clear that she considered herself to be unwell and unable to care for her children. The children were placed in emergency placements when it became clear that the mother was unable to have them home from school. This will have caused the children anxiety and distress. On [date redacted] November 2024 the mother agreed to S20 accommodation, due to the children being at risk of neglect in her care.[9]The children have been observed to be inappropriately dressed on occasions with their clothing back to front or the wrong size and with Arthur wearing shorts in winter and Bella wearing winter boots in the summer. There has been a lack of food in the home and during term time the children have been dependent upon two meals a day at school.[10]The mother has delegated her care of Carl and Bella at times to Arthur, including on occasions when Arthur has disciplined his younger siblings. This creates a confusing and upsetting environment for the children, leading to emotional and physical harm.[11]All three children have experienced instability in their living arrangements. The mother's inability to provided good enough parenting has impacted upon the children's security and emotional wellbeing. Arthur has lived in nine different homes since coming to the UK and has attended four different primary schools. Bella is behind at school and struggles to follow rules. Carl has episodes of dysregulated behaviour and has been heard to call his mother a "bitch" and a ‘stupid idiot’ and has written "Fuck you" on the living room walls and sofa. Approved: H.H. Judge Marson Dated: 6 August 2025