James Kingsley

I have worked for sixteen years as a Guardian ad litem and have represented all ages of children in the full range of specified public law and adoption proceedings.

I have worked throughout the range of court jurisdiction and have gained experience of critical evaluation of local authority social work practice across at least eight different local authorities. I have wide experience of appointment in private law proceedings as a s.7 reporter and as a Rule 9.5 (FPR) Guardian ad litem, particularly in what are regarded as intractable contact disputes. I have travelled throughout UK and to USA and Ireland to conduct kinship assessments.

As a Guardian ad litem I have taken a particular interest in infants with neo-natal abstinence syndrome (drug withdrawing babies) and in the assessment of serious NAI to and neglect of young children in dangerous families. I am committed to the principle that in any proceedings concerning them, the child must have an independent voice in the proceedings.

Following the birth of CAFCASS in 2001 I have continued to work as a Children’s Guardian in public law, as a Family Court Adviser in private law proceedings and as a Guardian ad litem in Rule 9.5 proceedings. Since 2000 I have been developing my range of work as an independent social worker and, since October 2005, have been entirely self-employed.

I have been commissioned by local authorities and by parents to prepare a number of ISW (DoH Lilac Book) assessments of parents in care and freeing proceedings, viability assessments of parents in care proceedings and parenting assessments in private law (contact & residence) proceedings.

I have been commissioned by solicitors to prepare risk assessments and release plans for presentation to The Parole Board concerning high risk offenders including life-sentence prisoners.