Eleanor Derry

I am an Associate Solicitor within the Childcare team at our Burton office, having previously worked in our Derby office. I represent parents, grandparents and wider family members involved in the care of children within Care Proceedings and the pre-proceedings (Public Law Outline) process. I am children’s panel accredited and therefore also represent children in both care proceedings and within private law applications, via their CAFCASS Guardian. 

I represent clients at Court and at Local Authority meetings, to assist them in securing the care of their child or when decisions need to be made in respect of a child’s best interests. Often the decisions that parents or carers need to make are not easy, they can be complicated with many factors at play and advice must suit each client and child’s specific circumstances and needs, taking into account potential issues which may also present in the future.

I have represented and advised clients in cases involving non-accidental injuries, domestic violence, FGM and forced marriage, child neglect, mental health illness, learning disabilities, trauma, sexual abuse, drug and alcohol misuse amongst many other issues. I have represented clients who require the assistance of an interpreter, an intermediary or advocate, official solicitor due to lack of capacity, as well as clients who are in prison or abroad. I have represented clients within proceedings before the High Court and where secure accommodation of a child or deprivation of liberty is concerned. I have also represented clients where there are significant cultural or immigration issues present.

In the majority of cases, clients seek to keep their child or children in their care which is what I work to achieve but where this outcome is not possible, consideration will be given to securing the next best option such as keeping the child placed within the wider family. Where a sibling group is concerned, consideration always needs to be given to whether siblings should remain together or whether they may need to be placed separately. In some cases, clients will decide that their child would be best placed elsewhere and we will work together to secure the best possible outcome for the child, with the parent maintaining contact.