Under the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass) proposals being developed, a "watching brief" system would replace guardians in all but the most pressing cases. This would involve a named practitioner monitoring proceedings by keeping regular contact with the child's solicitor.
Cafcass chief executive Anthony Douglas told CYP Now that although the proposals entail a degree of risk, they are needed if courts are to adequately deal with an increased workload.
"I do think that in very cashand resource-strapped times it is better to do really important cases well and take more of a back seat in others," he said. "We don't need to be involved in every case, nor do lawyers, but we do need to be involved in many cases and lawyers in some.
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