In its annual report for 2007/8 Ofsted heaped damning criticism on Cafcass. The report claimed the service's private law procedures were failing to safeguard children and in some areas were beset with delays.
Inspectors also found that "an unacceptable number" of private law case plans and case files were inadequate and the organisation was poor at self-criticism, with observations largely "positive in tone" and lacking an emphasis on improvement.
Cafcass chief executive Anthony Douglas said the report predates sweeping changes launched in April this year that created more middle tier management roles to better support frontline staff.
He said: "The increase in frontline practice supervisors will mean more support and advice is on hand for practitioners to discuss complex cases or to reflect on the analysis in their reports. More frontline managers will help hard-pressed practitioners to deliver high quality assessments, case management and planning."
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