A recent parliamentary inquiry report by two All Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs) has called for an independent investigation into children's homes in England, claiming that the system of residential care is 'not fit for purpose' for children who go missing.
Family Law News
The Family Rights Group has responded to new research released by the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), which claims that local authorities are acting more quickly to process care applications.
Professor Eileen Munro, author of the Government’s review of the child protection system, has said that a “culture change” is underway in the child protection system but outlined an urgent need to now accelerate reforms to create a more child-centred system.
New research from Oxford University has challenged concerns about duplication and delay through the use of independent social work (ISW) assessments in Family Court proceedings. On the contrary, the report argues that delays might be reduced by the earlier appointment of ISW experts.
A report published by Ofsted found that the most significant cause of delay for children needing adoption is the length of time it takes for cases to be completed in court. The average time taken to complete care proceedings in the cases inspectors examined was almost 14 months.
Nagalro, the professional association for court guardians, has welcomed the government’s commitment to reducing delay in the family justice system but warns that it risks harming children’s interests by ill-thought out change.
A new set of court statistics have been published that supports the case for a comprehensive reform programme across the justice system.