The last minute announcement of a total change in the way Guardians are to be able to join CAFCASS: employment or not at all - has come as a shock to everyone.  Though the contracts for those seeking employment have been altered in response to criticisms about leave, and though the terms may appear attractive to some colleagues outside the South East and other metropolitan areas, the choice promised to us throughout the consultation period has been summarily withdrawn - the self employed do not have a role in CAFCASS. 

The arrival of the contracts on 9^th and 10^th July with a requirement that Guardians sign by 27^th July or not join CAFCASS is unreasonable.   This does not give adequate time for consideration of a whole new set of circumstances  which constitute a total change to the longstanding professional and working arrangements of the majority of Guardians, who represent at least half the current practitioners.  This change dishonours the promises made by the Project Team up to 1 April and by CAFCASS, in all their most recent correspondence, including the letter of 11 May sent out with the previous set of employed and self employed contracts, about the retention of a mixed economy within CAFCASS.  NAGALRO thinks that this is unreasonable and unfair. 

NAGALRO has already heard from many colleagues about their outrage at what they see as the final betrayal and lack of regard CAFCASS has shown to Guardians, the current attempt to rewrite them out of the history of children's representation which we saw at the Power Pack launch on 2 July, and the misrepresentations about the benefits of a fully employed service which is the new CAFCASS spin.  The proposed managed and fully employed service will reduce representation for children in public law proceedings to the lowest common denominator; work will be restricted; cases will be stacked up, and in some areas, particularly in London, where only 4 out of a group of 40 who met on 19^th June are prepared, albeit unwillingly, to sign, there will be no Guardians for children. 

Others are furious at the intention to treat us all as employees from 1 August and deduct PAYE.  Many are considering whether or not they will be in a position to continue with their cases, particularly, if as well as PAYE deductions they are seeking and obtaining alternate work.  They have ethical issues about doing this, but consider that it is CAFCASS' heavy-handed tactics that show a lack of ethics.   We hope to give you answers very soon.