President of Family Division to chair board overseeing modernisation reforms

The President of the Family Division is to chair an implementation board including those responsible for ensuring that changes proposed as part of the Family Justice Modernisation Programme are successful across England and Wales, Mr Justice Ryder has said.

In his fifth update, the High Court judge, who is in charge of the programme, said the board would be supported by a project team supported by the Judicial Office “so that appropriate public sector checks and balances can be brought to bear in the design and implementation of change”.

Mr Justice Ryder also revealed that:

  • In early May the outline proposals that will form the basis of his recommendations were agreed in principle with the senior judiciary
  • The Family Procedure Rules Committee has embarked on a programme of scrutiny of up to 16 legislative instruments, beginning with rule and practice direction changes relating to experts
  • The Faster Family Justice Group has been asked to take forwad detailed work with all professional groups and agencies to help identify good practice materials and guidance which will be published towards the end of 2012
  • The Family Justice Council in its reformed role has been asked to identify priority work which will include guidance on the use of experts, self represented litigants and good practice in cases involving domestic abuse
  • Training plans are being developed with the Judicial College to provide leadership and management training for all leadership judges. There will also be a new programme of good practice training for all judges authorised to hear public law cases and family lead legal advisers/justices’ clerks before the launch of the new single family court.

Mr Justice Ryder said: “Our work is already well under way. In care centres and Family Proceedings Courts around England and Wales the ideas that will bring about the change in culture that we all agree is necessary are beginning to find a voice.

“Agencies and courts are already changing their practices to ensure that time is well spent not wasted during proceedings, specific ideas are being developed and guidance drafted and there is a real emphasis on establishing the timetable for the child in every case.”