Ministers launch wide-ranging review of family justice system
The government this week launched a major review of the family justice system with a view to reducing conflict and promoting earlier resolution of problems.
The Support for All green paper includes a number of proposals that could potentially affect local authorities. These include plans to:
- Ensure every local authority is able to offer an intensive family intervention service for families with the most complex needs
- Establish a national training programme for family intervention key workers and invite the most experienced workers to join a national expert team to help local authorities to develop new services
- Publish in 2010 refreshed guidance for local authorities on the commissioning and delivery of effective parents and family support services
- Commit the necessary funding for the only pilot Family Drug and Alcohol Court in England to continue until March 2012 so the lessons from its approach can be learned and applied
- Publish for consultation in March 2010 a new statutory guidance framework setting out how local authorities should approach their responsibilities for children and young people living with family and friends carers
- Fund the roll-out of a toolkit to equip councils to develop and sustain a family group conference service
- Introduce greater flexibility to make payments to family carers under section 17(6) of the Children Act 1989.
These proposals were part of a wider package of measures intended to improve flexible working for parents and family friendly employment rights, offer separating parents more mediation support (including consideration of whether to make it compulsory) and give grandparents more recognition, improved legal rights for access and a dedicated website.
The Justice Secretary, Jack Straw, said: “We know that for many families the current family justice system is proving far too complicated, and its adversarial nature can lead to bitter, lengthy court hearings, prolonging what is already a stressful and emotionally draining experience.
“While the vast majority of separating parents settle their disputes privately, for those who do need to access to the system we need to find a better, fairer way to forge lasting agreements for the care of children.”
Other proposals in the Green Paper include reviewing the notice period for the two-week paternity leave period, looking at whether parents should be able to take parental leave when their children are older than five, and raising awareness of family friendly employment rights.
The Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, Ed Balls, said: “Families come in all shapes and sizes these days and the evidence is clear that stable and loving relationships between parents and with their children are vital for their progress and well-being. This was confirmed in the Families in Britain evidence paper. The government is therefore strongly committed to supporting all parents, grandparents and carers in sustaining strong and resilient relationships.”
The family justice review will be conducted by a panel, comprising four external representatives and senior representatives from the Ministry of Justice, the DCSF and the Welsh Assembly Government. It is expected to report to the Secretary of State and the Welsh Assembly minister for health and social services by early 2011.
