Average length of public law care proceedings 10 weeks longer than same period in 2020: Cafcass

The average length of public law care and supervision proceedings in the final quarter of the reporting year (January to March 2023) was 46 weeks - 10 weeks longer than reported for the same period in 2020.

These are the findings of Cafcass’ Annual Report and Accounts 2022-23, which notes that delays “continue to have a negative impact on children”.

Cafcass worked with a total of 143,469 children and young people in the 2022-23 reporting year, a decrease of 7,949 children compared with the previous year.

Approximately one-third of the children were involved in public law proceedings and two-thirds in private law proceedings.

The average length of private law proceedings in the final quarter of the reporting year was 61 weeks - 22 weeks longer than the same period in 2020, the data revealed.

Cafcass said it has “prioritised reducing delay” and has pledged to continue to work closely with family justice partners “to retain a spotlight on the shared solutions”.

The report describes “continued recovery” from the challenging years of Covid-19, “more stable demand trends and therefore improved stability in social work caseloads”.

It adds: “The reducing uncertainty associated with the pandemic enabled Cafcass to make an explicit commitment at the start of the reporting year to set higher practice and management quality standards, prioritise regional consistency and to make more demanding tests in respect of children’s safety and welfare in proceedings."

Cafcass revealed it has “continued to improve” the way it asks children about their heritage and how this is recorded and analysed as part of the child’s plan.

As of 31 March 2023, ethnicity was recorded for 94.2% of children in public law proceedings, and 83.4% of children in private law proceedings.

Cafcass has also been developing its data on court outcomes, starting with an analysis of what happens to children at the end of public law care proceedings.

So far, its work has identified that in just over a third of section 31 care proceedings, but with “significant” local variation, children remain or return to the care of their parents.

Ofsted completed a ‘focused visit’ in January 2023, which found evidence of strong social work practice, effective management oversight, and positive partnerships, the report noted.

However, on staffing arrangements, inspectors noted the challenges related to pay and workload pressures and reported that there were impacts on staff retention in some areas.

The domestic abuse improvement programme and the encouraging early learning from the pathfinder courts are described in the report, alongside the organisational commitment to further internal changes that build on the pathfinder principles of “earlier support to children in proceedings and more efficient work with families to resolve the arrangements for them and their children more quickly and effectively”.

Jacky Tiotto, Cafcass Chief Executive, and Sally Cheshire, Chair of the Cafcass board said: “As ever, we are both proud and grateful to everyone at Cafcass for their work, their expertise and their support which really are the story of this annual report. These last few years have been challenging and there are no simple fixes to the enduring difficulties and impact of longer case durations, demand variations across the country and recruitment and retention concerns in many places.

“In spite of our context as part of a family justice system that remains pressurised, we are ambitious and excited to be so. Our board members, our colleagues, our partners and the very many children and families who take the time to give us feedback, have helped give us the confidence to commit to a set of ambitions and intentions over the next few years that will further improve and strengthen the work that we are able to do.”

Lottie Winson