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Councils attack government's 'misleading' adoption scorecards
Controversial adoption scorecards, published for the first time today, find nearly half of councils have failed to meet national targets.
11 May 2012
Legal cuts threaten family court cases, warn guardians
Children involved in family court cases are in danger of receiving an inadequate service as guardians and lawyers are hit with funding cuts and record care applications.
20 February 2012
Family courts plans 'risk miscarriages of justice'
Social workers and children's guardians have condemned "nonsensical" government plans for a six-month limit on care cases, warning the deadline could lead to miscarriages of justice.
09 February 2012
Cafcass: How we screen 200 private law cases a day
On a typical day, at least 200 private law applications will arrive at Cafcass’ national business centre (NBC) in Coventry. Every application - from a parent or guardian - will be different, but each will represent a child who has experienced family breakdown.
11 January 2012
External court assessments costing councils
The increasing number of court orders demanding independent expert reports in family court proceedings is starting to take a financial toll on local authorities.
24 November 2011
Social workers criticise quality of work by guardians
Social workers say their relationship with court guardians is close to breaking point and having a direct impact on their ability to support and protect children.
31 October 2011
Tips on writing welfare reports in private law cases
A rise in care applications and private law cases means more social workers are being asked to provide courts with welfare reports.Matthew Burman gives some guidance on what is expected
24 October 2011
The best-performing family court in the country
Derby's designated family judge James Orrell presides over the best performing family court in the country. Patrick Weir reports
12 August 2011
Measures to tackle Cafcass family courts backlog ditched
Controversial measures introduced to help Cafcass tackle the backlog of family court cases that built up after the Baby P case are to be discontinued. It follows an agreement between the president of the family division of the High Court and Cafcass chief Anthony Douglas (pictured).
08 August 2011
Care applications continue to rise as court delays continue
Better identification and assessment of the impact of neglect on children are behind the sustained rise in care applications this year with Cafcass reporting a further 9% increase in cases between April and June compared with the same time last year.
14 July 2011
MPs call on Cafcass to use more self-employed guardians
MPs have called on Cafcass to use more self-employed guardians and to respect the professionalism of its staff by taking a lighter-touch management style.
14 July 2011
Social workers 'unfairly' targeted by Family Justice Review
Social workers were unfairly singled out by the Family Justice Review in its bid to reduce the number of experts called by courts, a member of the review panel has admitted.
13 July 2011
High Court rap for Cafcass over bid to remove guardian
Family courts body Cafcass has been reprimanded in the High Court for trying to remove a guardian from a contested care case.
Picture: Rex Features
06 July 2011
Fees cap deters independent social workers as expert witnesses
Independent social workers have been refusing to appear as expert witnesses in family court cases since the Legal Services Commission capped their fees, Community Care has learned. Alison Paddle (pictured), an independent social worker and former chair of Nagalro which represents guardians and ISWs, said the new fees made it "scarcely affordable" for them to provide the advice.
19 May 2011
ADCS: Private law safeguarding changes will increase workload
Referrals to children's services could soar if private law changes being considered by the Family Justice Review are implemented, the Association of Directors of Children's Services president, Matt Dunkley (pictured), has warned.
23 May 2011
ADCS: All expert witnesses should be accredited
Experts giving evidence in family court cases should be accredited and registered on a central database, according to the Association of Directors of Children's Services.
20 May 2011
Law reforms could save social workers 45 minutes a week
The overhaul of adult social care proposed this week would cut bureaucracy and save time for social workers, analysis has shown.
12 May 2011
Loughton: Courts should ask for more foster carer evidence
Foster carers should be called more often as expert witnesses on family court care applications, children's minister Tim Loughton has said.
26 April 2011
Ministers likely to accept Cafcass move to justice ministry
The government is likely to accept proposals that Cafcass should come under the control of the Ministry of Justice as part of a family justice service.
26 April 2011
Family justice review urges abolition of court fees
Councils will no longer have to stump up hefty court fees when making care orders if proposals put forward by the family justice review are accepted by government.
04 April 2011
