A report by the justice select committee on the operation of the family courts calls for the move to be the first in a series of reforms designed to transform the body into a less process-driven, more child-focused and integral part of family justice.
"The entire family justice system should be focused on the best interests of the child," the report states. "Cafcass as an organisation is not. We accept that Cafcass has had to make difficult decisions in order to reduce delays and the number of unallocated and duty allocated cases.
"However, in order to make progress Cafcass has had to offer a 'safe minimum' service, and the amount of time that Cafcass workers currently spend with children is unacceptable in the long term."
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
