Case No. LV21C01426

8.Immediate placement of any of the children with the parents is not an outcome which would serve any of the children’s welfare. This case, therefore, involves decisions surrounding the issues involved in finding the best outcome for a large sibling group considering the complex dynamics involved in probable diverse placements including, but not limited to, ongoing sibling attachment and contact.9.The complexity of the case is exacerbated by several factors. The ages of the children are significant. W is 7 ½ years old; he has spent all his life developing and maintaining relationships with his siblings and currently lives with his four year old brother X. X at 4 ½ is of an age that would commonly be considered as relatively advanced to be made the subject of a placement order and has, himself an ongoing relationship with all his siblings. The ages of Y and Z are perhaps more conducive to placement orders commonly being made although it must be noted that they have, themselves ongoing relationships with their brothers. 10.The younger children’s relationship with W is of particular note as unfortunately, as is often the case with grossly deficient parenting, W is regarded by his siblings as a constant and reliable factor in their lives. It is impossible to consider any outcome without having due regard to the sense of loss (which may manifest itself as a bereavement) that the younger siblings will suffer in the event that W suddenly no longer forms a part of their lives and that W would have if permanently separated from his younger siblings, particularly X for whom he has taken a caring role.11.The case of