Cafcass accused of breaching duties

Two families have been granted permission to bring a judicial
review claim over delays in providing guardians to four
children.

The families in the test case argue that the Children and Family
Court Advisory and Support Service breached its statutory duties
and the children’s human rights.

Charles Prest, Cafcass director of legal services and special
casework, said the organisation had been troubled by contract and
recruitment problems. These had affected the swift allocation of
guardians, but all the children had been allocated one before the
applications for judicial review were issued.

Reducing the delays was now a top priority for the organisation, he
said.

In the High Court, Mr Justice Scott Baker ordered the case to be
heard as soon as possible after 1 November.

– For an analysis of this case go to “legal updates”, which can be
found at www.communitycare.co.uk