Court moves girl to Poland over care concerns

The girl - not pictured - was living in foster care from late 2023

A girl was moved back to her home country of Poland to live with her grandparents after a council found her mother was unable to look after her properly.

Oxfordshire County Council said it was worried that the care provided by her mother, a victim of domestic abuse, was deteriorating.

It said the girl, referred to in court papers as Natalia, was not being protected and she was placed in foster care in late 2023.

Judge Joanna Vincent made the order at Oxford Family Court.

Natalia’s mother, who is Polish, was found to be struggling with alcohol and living a chaotic lifestyle.

Documents show that police were called to one incident where she was found to be “kicking off and throwing things” while her daughter was at home.

Police attended their home with Tasers due to the risk posed, a council document states.

The authority also found their home to be “cluttered, dirty and unhygienic”.

The judge found the mother loves Natalia and “wants her to be safe, healthy and happy”.

Assessments found Natalia’s maternal grandparents, who have stable jobs and “live in a large apartment in a lovely neighbourhood with beautiful scenery”, were suitable guardians. The judge agreed.

Natalia's mother “bravely [did] her best” for her daughter and cooperated with the plan, while her fosters carers were a “huge support”, the judge said.

Her father, also a Polish national, had not seen his daughter for more than two years when the hearing took place last month.

He had earlier said he wanted to re-establish contact with her but that did not materialise, the court heard.