Case No. EWFC-63

49.The mother accepts that she has for many years struggled with poor mental health, which has impacted upon her, and her ability to provide care for the children. She accepts that she has unresolved trauma, and that she needs substantial therapy. She would wish to undergo that therapy with H remaining in her care. 50.The psychologist sets out a summary at the beginning of her evidence in relation to the mother. That records a wide range of aspects of the mother’s functioning and presentation which impacted upon her ability to meet her children’s needs. The psychologist set out that the mother has unresolved attachment issues, she is preoccupied and hypervigilant in respect of some reported traumas, but dismissive of others. Her attachment profile would predict an increased risk of mental health problems, and personality dysfunction. The psychologist sets out that in her view these factors have a significant impact on the mother’s ability to form and maintain healthy interpersonal relationships, on her parenting capacity, and on her ability to identify risk and respond appropriately to that.51.The psychologist had previously in her report of 19th July 2021 set out the mother’s limitation in various areas of functioning, and she confirmed within this report that it appeared the mother still struggled to process and retain information. Although the mother can repeat parts of what she has learnt on some courses, the way she puts that across caused the psychologist to believe that the mother had a partial understanding of what she had been taught, and cannot necessarily apply that learning consistently, and transfer knowledge and skills from one situation to another. Although the psychologist discusses the mother’s cognitive profile, she goes on to say that the cognitive profile does not fully explain the mother’s cognitive rigidity when it comes to her outright refusal to accept alternative opinions when those conflict with her own beliefs.52.The mother has been diagnosed with PTSD, linked primarily to incidents of domestic violence. Although the mother asserts that behaviour within relationships can lead to her being “triggered” in relation to that, the psychologist was clear that in fact what the mother appeared to be referring to was behaviour that made her fear that a partner was interested in other women. The psychologist describes this as a preoccupying theme, linked to insecurity of the mother.53.The psychologist accepts that the enormity of the task of caring for Y will almost certainly have been traumatising, and will have impacted upon the mother’s mental health.54.The psychologist is clear that whilst there are a variety of possible explanations for the mother’s behaviour, and the findings that the court has made, these matters are less relevant than an understanding of the impact on both of the children of the misrepresentation of health issues, and the reality of the resistance to change by the mother which suggests ongoing risk.55.This aspect was illustrated by the fact that the independent social worker set out on a number of occasions that the mother had told her that she herself had a diagnosis of difficulties with her thyroid. Evidence has been produced that the mother has no diagnosis of that. The independent social worker was cross examined that the mother had not told her that, and she was incorrect when she had reported that on a number of occasions in her report. It was suggested to her that the mother was describing H as having thyroid difficulties. The evidence of the independent social worker however was entirely clear and consistent that the mother had been telling her that she, the mother, also had such problems, particularly as she had discussed that it might be hereditary. This is a very typical type of information given by the mother to people, which often consists of exaggerations and untruths. I was quite satisfied that the independent social worker was accurate when she said the mother told her this, and the mother has now had to backtrack upon being presented with the evidence that it is not true. The report of the psychologist sets out many other examples in relation to this, and there are a number in the previous judgment. 56.The mother does have diagnoses of PTSD, depression and anxiety. She has been categorised as having an enduring non-psychotic disorder. The psychologist reports that it appears both children have experienced some positive and very loving parenting from their mother, and sets out the efforts that the mother has made to meet her children’s needs in terms of courses and interventions. Mother has also in the past engaged with therapy with the mental health team, but nonetheless the mother has struggled to meet the needs of her daughters on a consistent basis, and to work well with professionals.57.More recently since Y has been out of her care, the mother accepted to the psychologist that H caused extreme levels of parenting stress, and suggested that the majority of the problems lie in H’s traits and behaviours. 58.In her summary of the mothers overall presentation, at para 450 the psychologist reports: “ [M] presents with a complex profile in which she reports such high levels of psychopathology that it is difficult to identify those aspects of her functioning that createthe most difficulty for her. Many problems (including medical and mental health issues) are reported to the extent that it is difficult to understand how she could function on a day to day basis. At the same time, other aspects of functioning appear to be minimised somewhat. When gently challenged about possible exaggeration and over-reporting of problems, [M] was resolute that she was being entirely truthful and that self report was an accurate representation of her thoughts, feelings, behaviour and experiences”59.In her summary of conclusions the psychologist sets out that:“In my opinion, [M] poses an unacceptable risk to [H], given the history, thefindings and [M] understanding of and response to these findings. I have verysignificant concerns about the impact that her psychological problems, poor coping andproblem-solving skills, and her preoccupation with her relationship needs will continue to have on parenting capacity. I am concerned that she does not currently have the personal or social resources to make significant improvements within the timescales of the children”60.The psychologist goes on to conclude that the prognosis for therapy is guarded, and the mother has so far benefitted little from the interventions and support she has currently had.61.She was asked having read the updating document’s whether they had changed her view at all when she gave her oral evidence. She said that if anything her concerns had been raised further by those documents. 62.She was asked whether the mother might be able to undertake some work whilst H remained in her care, but she confirmed as set out in her report that although the mother said that she was keen to work on her difficulties, she thought it was extremely unlikely the mother would be able to engage. She accepted it might be possible to see whether mother was engaging after three or four months, but was clear it would not be safe for H to remain in her care during that time.