CHILDREN'S SERVICES

Councils liable for foster care abuse

Local authorities can be held liable for abuse committed by foster carers even if the authority is not itself at fault, the Supreme Court has said in a milestone ruling.

Local authorities can be held liable for abuse committed by foster carers even if the authority is not itself at fault, the Supreme Court has said in a milestone ruling.

The court decided that councils were ‘vicariously liable' for abuse which means that, although there has been no wrongdoing on the part of the council, it can nevertheless be held responsible for injuries or negligence caused by foster parents.

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