What I think of the evidence
39.A Council have written a summary of the history of this case and the evidence that they say is important to help me make my decision. This is called their “written opening”.40.Jeanette, the Social Worker’s evidence was the same as she has written in her statements. She told me that she would have liked to meet with N more, but it was not possible as N was not available. She told of trying to get N to do some work with 4 other social workers to have an assessment of her support needs, including housing, but this did not happen. She said that N did not take part with the teaching assessment properly. She said that it was very hard to meet with N but that she tried many times. N had also left her home and did not give her a new address. She said that she had not failed to assess N but was unable to as N would not work with her and others. She had considered all options for the girls. 41.Jeanette said that some people thought that N was taking drugs. There is no evidence of her taking drugs and N said in her own evidence, very strongly, that she does not take drugs. Suspicion is not enough. I accept what N says.42.The Social Worker also said that N needs daily help to feed the children and keep them clean but the PAMS assessment did not say this. The Guardian also said in his evidence that he did not worry about that. There is no evidence to support what the social worker said and I do not accept it.43.I think that N has done the very best that she can for X and Y. She has been good at going to contact and the contact has been very nice for everyone. She is warm and loving. I know that she loves X and Y very much and they love her too. She is a lovely young woman.44.N wants me to let the girls come home with her with support and any court order which would allow this. I understand her wish for this but we have already had reports from the second social worker – who was not on anyone’s side (independent). Her reports said that N could not care for X and Y without doing work and that N had not done the work when it was offered to her. She was given lots of opportunities to work with the social workers but did not do so. If I agreed to wait to see if more work could be done either in a new house or at a Mother and Baby Unit it could cause delay and harm to X and Y and I don’t think it would tell me anything that I don’t already know. If I let N go to a Mother and Baby Unit it would only be for a short time anyway and that level of support could not happen forever. Sadly N has not been ready or able to do the work required to make things better and safe for the girls.45.I do not think that N would ever deliberately harm X and Y. I know she loves them dearly. X and Y are little and vulnerable young girls. They are completely dependent on their carers to meet all their needs. They have been shown lots of love and affection by their mum and she has taken joy from their time with them. Very sadly, the care offered in the safe, supervised contact would be much harder in the mother’s home where there would be distractions and other things to do. I agree with the Guardian that the responsibility of day to day care of X and Y is more than likely to be too much for N and that she can’t provide them with a safe and secure home. I agree with the Guardian and the social workers that any neglect would not be deliberate, but it would still harm X and Y.46.I have read all the information in the bundle and listened to what everyone has said. I don’t think that there is anything more that social services could do that has not already been tried to help N so that X and Y could be safe at home. I need to make a decision for X and Y now, they have been in foster care for almost 2 years and need to move to their forever home as soon as possible. I do not think that delay will be helpful and the next move must be their last one.47.I think that A Council have done all they could to support and assess N and that she has failed, not refused, to take part properly.