The Care Proceedings Pilot by Westminster, Hammersmith & Fulham and Kensington & Chelsea councils, which merged their children’s services departments last year, is a response to the Family Justice Review, which called on family courts to complete all public law cases within six months.
The £50,000 project will start in April and requires the boroughs to produce prompt assessments that conform to set standards. Judges will bear in mind the child’s timescales when making decisions, to reduce any delays, and designated days will be set aside for care cases at the Inner London and City Family Proceedings Court.
The boroughs will also hire a case manager to co-ordinate about 100 cases across the three boroughs each year. It will be their job to track and chase the progress of each case and make sure the six-month deadline is met. Case reviews will be conducted after each case is concluded, to inform future practice.
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