Case No. LV21C01426

52.The social worker has prepared an initial assessment which was intended to be a together and apart assessment of the four children. The initial report is not as helpful as it could be. As a “together” report, it supports the children remaining together either with their parents or in an adoptive placement (para 11). As an “apart” report it says:53.“I fully accept that the potential severing of ties with siblings may have a huge emotional impact upon W. However, X, Z and Y are very young and it may be unfair for them to have a care plan of long term fostering just so they can maintain direct contact with W.”54.The report concludes with the following notable paragraphs:I expect that the bond between W and X is stronger at this time, but in the case of adoption I would not recommend all four together. I am of the view that W would not settle in adoption whereas, X, Y and Z may well do given their young age. I do believe that the separation from X, as opposed to Y and Z would have more of an emotional impact at this time for W given they have been in care proceedings together. However, X is a small child who I believe would be able to transfer his attachments to another carer and there will be no long-term impact upon X should he be separated from W via adoption, especially if he was to be placed with Y and Z.I would be of the opinion that there would be a significant impact upon W if his brother and her sister were to be placed for adoption and he would certainly need some support or perhaps therapy to address this. But, I believe that W’ attachment to his mother and stepfather is much stronger and the impact of that severance would have a huge impact upon him more so than the loss of his siblings. As whilst the siblings have been raised together W does not speak about his siblings and observation in contact and that he tends to play on his own.If the plan were adoption, then I would not recommend that W be placed in an adoptive family alongside his siblings. I would be of the view that X, Z and Y could be placed together. I base this opinion on the emotional needs of W i.e. his strong attachment to his mother and stepfather and an adoptive family having to manage this as well as three young children.55.In my judgment the together and apart assessment is of limited value. Whilst there is significant emphasis placed upon the effect upon W of separating him from his siblings there is limited evidence based analysis of the effect on the siblings of being separated from W, in particular the effect this will have on X who has lived with W all his life. I share the concern of the independent social worker that the opinion is based on limited information obtained during observations of the children and unfounded or unsupported suppositions regarding the effect separation will have on each of the siblings individually.