​ZK (Landau-Kleffner Syndrome : Best Interests) [2021] EWCOP 12

​The court had to determine whether it was in the P's best interests to remain away from his family home and, indeed, to move to a new placement, or for him to return to his family home and their care.

The P suffers from Landau-Kleffner Syndrome. Until September 2020 he lived with his mother at her home. By September 2020, the P was consistently expressing a wish to leave the home he shared with his mother. He expressed the wish to leave quickly. He did not wish his mother or family to have notice of his move. The Local Authority conducted a best interests meeting on 11 September 2020, having assessed the P as lacking the capacity to make the decision. The decision was to move him out. By the time of this hearing, he was in Placement 1, with a new Placement 2 planned. The court had to decide if he should move to Placement 2 or return to his mother's home.

The court ruled that it was in the P's best interests to remain in Placement 1, and to move to Placement 2 when it was ready and there to receive a package of care which accords with his assessed needs. 

Read the full text of the judgment on Bailii.