Case No. LV21C01426

56.In an attempt to address the limitations of the social workers together and apart assessment the children’s Guardian Madeleine Jones, in her analysis, has supplemented the evidence with information she has obtained from the foster carers. The Guardian’s analysis deployed strengths and difficulties questionnaires (SDQs) put to the carers which resulted in a table of scored answers contained within the analysis. The Guardian is critical of the together and apart assessment and says, “I have considered the sibling assessment completed by the local authority. Unfortunately, this has not considered the most recent guidance (Beckett, 2021) who recommends the strengths and difficulties questionnaires were completed in respect of each child.”57.The Guardian analyses the scores in her analysis and concludes that in respect of the local authority’s plan for X to be placed with Y and Z she is extremely concerned, given the significant difficulties all three children have with their social skills and relationship building that such a placement would be doomed to fail.58.Regarding the conclusion at the time of her initial analysis was to support the plan of adoption for X Y and Z whilst expressing significant concern about the proposal of them being placed together. The Guardian supported the making of a care order in respect of W and asked the local authority to make further enquiries as to whether his current carers would accept a long-term placement.59.Unfortunately, shortly before the final hearing W’ current carers withdrew from being considered as long-term carers.60.The Guardian’s final recommendation was that W should be placed in long-term foster care, that X should be placed for adoption alone and that Y and Z should be placed for adoption together.61.In relation to W the Guardian said in her evidence, with regard to adoption, “If the right placement could be found it would be wonderful.”62.In the Guardian’s evidence both written and oral she laid great store on the potential for adoptive placement breakdown in the case of both W and X. With regard to W the Guardian was so concerned of a likely adoption breakdown that she considered long-term foster care to be the better option. In the case of X, the Guardian was of the view that if he was placed with his sisters the placement of X would destabilise a placement for all three siblings and that it was better that X be placed on his own.63.In her evidence the Guardian relied upon a research report by adoption UK titled