The Family Justice Review, which published its final report in November last year, called for independent social workers to only be employed in family courts in exceptional circumstances.
It cited delays in the system and duplication of evidence as reasons for the restricted use of the specialist professionals.
But research from Oxford University, based on 65 cases concerning 121 children, found that cases referred to independent social workers involved children and parents with multiple problems.
In nearly half of the cases, the social workers had conducted work that had not already been undertaken by local authorities. Where reports were delayed, in most cases it was due to change in circumstances of the cases. On all other occasions, the reports were filed to the lead solicitor on time.
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