It ignores the role of Children and Family Court Advisory and SupportService (Cafcass) practitioners who talk to and give a voice tochildren.
Cafcass guardians and children's solicitors provide children with legaland welfare representation, which is their right under the UN Conventionon the Rights of the Child. Finding out what children think is a complextask and the cases that get as far as the courts are the most difficultones. The average age of children in these cases is just four yearsold.
If children are to have a real say in the court decision they need morethan speaking to a judge or magistrates in the fraught atmosphere of acourt setting. They need good information and it is vital that theyunderstand what is going on. They need to know about the case with itsspecialised language and procedures. It is skilled work to explain suchemotionally loaded concepts in ways appropriate for each child's age,cognitive ability, cultural background, language, and emotionalstate.
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
