Cafcass outlines new practice standards for public law work and expanded programme of workshops for local authorities
Cafcass has set out steps it has been taking to improve its practice when representing children in public law proceedings, including the development of practice quality standards, workshops for local authority social workers and public law practitioners, and data-based research.
The programme of work follows the publication in March 2021 of the final report of the Public Law Working Group, which made 47 recommendations for best practices in the child protection and family courts systems.
Since its publication, Cafcass has been using the report's recommendations to help inform the improvement of its own public law practice.
As part of this, the non-departmental public body has developed practice quality standards for its public law practice based on the findings from audit, learning reviews and feedback. They are produced following collaboration with practice staff and with external partners. The result is a set of practice quality standards to be used by its Family Court Advisers (FCAs) and by supervisors in assessing the quality of practice.
Designed to benefit Family Court Advisers and the young people and families with whom they work, the standards set out what children, families and partners can expect of Cafcass. Within Cafcass, they provide a focus for reflective supervision, case audits, practice observations and practice and learning reviews, according to the charity.
Detailed guidance on how FCAs should apply the standards is also being worked on.
In addition, Cafcass announced it is expanding a programme of workshops designed to improve the way in which local authority social workers and Cafcass FCAs work together. Cafcass and Essex County Council first jointly delivered an iteration of the workshops in October and November 2021 with agreement from the Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS).
Based on positive feedback, Cafcass has decided to offer the two-and-a-half day workshop throughout the country later this year.
The non-departmental public body also announced that it has been using its own data set to identify differences in practice and performance in local areas as the basis for self-evaluation, bi-lateral discussions with partners and focused discussions at local Family Justice Boards.
The work includes a focus on the causes of delay, the impact of delay on the child and what can be done to bring about closure for the child.
The National Director of Operations for Cafcass, Jack Cordery, said: “This programme of self-assessment and the work to further improve the quality and impact of our practice in public law proceedings are an important step forward. They are based on what we find in our own audits and from feedback. They will help us to deliver improvements to the way we work with our partners to safeguard the welfare of children.
“We look forward to working evermore closely with our partners in the family justice system to help ensure that the recommendations in the Public Law Working Group’s report are fully implemented to the benefit of children.”
Adam Carey
