The House of Commons Justice Committee report on The Operation of the Family Courts was published on 14 July 2011. It had taken evidence from many sources, including Judith Timms, OBE, Nagalro's Policy Consultant who gave evidence in person to the Committee.
14 July 2011
Cafcass is not child-focused and requires major change, Justice Committee says
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Cafcass as an organisation is not focussed on the best interests of children. This stark evaluation comes in a hard-hitting report from the House of Commons Justice Committee on the operation of the family courts, which is published today.
The Committee questions the mindset of Cafcass senior management and calls for a change in management culture. The report is particularly scathing about Cafcass’s draft Operating Manual, calling it “process-driven” and “very imperfect”. It found the Manual placed “insufficient weight on the needs of children”. It suggests that Cafcass overloads its frontline staff with work, preventing them spending enough time with children.
The Committee recommends that the Family Justice Review look in detail at Cafcass and believes that a series of reforms are needed to transform the organisation.
Cafcass is criticised for not using its resources effectively. The Committee was “puzzled and concerned by Cafcass’s continued aversion” to making better use of its highly-regarded self-employed practitioners and that instead it has greatly increased its use of more costly, less flexible and less experienced agency staff.
The Justice Committee calls on Cafcass to embrace the approach of Professor Eileen Munro, which emphasises the value of professional judgment by social workers. This follows the criticism of Cafcass by the President of the Family Division in his landmark judgment on 4 July, which emphatically underlined the independent status of the Children’s Guardian as a vital part of protecting children.
Ann Haigh, Chair of Nagalro, professional association for Children’s Guardians, today warmly welcomed the report and called on the government to address the call for change as a matter of urgency: “It is shocking that a body whose sole purpose is to safeguard the interests of vulnerable children should fail to be child-focused. Children require a better service from Cafcass immediately. However, genuine culture change is required to bring about significant change at the top levels of the organisation.
At the moment Cafcass's minimum 'proportionate' service is being systematically embedded and it is not good enough for children. Experienced guardiansneed to be freed up so that they can safeguard children effectively once more. There are many skilled guardians who could be brought back with the right approach.”