By: frances heywood

frances heywood
Wed, 29 Oct 2025 20:09:27 +0000

In reply to Jayne.

thank Jayne, yes I remember when this burst on the scene years ago. OTOH in UK law, children under 18 are still ‘minors’ and social workers have a duty to protect them. I doubt many social workers or their managers would know anything about Gillick (they are not terribly bright) so I doubt the Gillick competence was at the front of their mind.
But if the general point is that the Gillick verdict contributed to the notion that adults (even parents) must not interfere with a minor’s sexual behaviour and sexual preferences, then yes.
Nevertheless, that general belief doesn’t absolve social workers’ responsibility for the welfare and protection of minors, especially the vulnerable.