Care applications to Cafcass rose 13% year-on-year in December
Care applications in December 2014 were the highest they’ve ever been for the month, figures from Cafcass have revealed.
A total of 918 care applications were received in December, a year-on-year increase of 13%.
So far, between April 2014 and March 2015, 8,196 care applications have been received. These figures are slightly higher than at the same [...]
College to review social work capability framework
The professional capabilities framework (PCF), which sets out skill requirements for social workers, is to be reviewed early next year the College of Social Work announced today.
The College is going to set up an advisory body to conduct the review, membership of which is yet to be decided. The review will look at consolidating standards [...]
Sir James Munby: ‘Re B-S ruling has not changed the law on adoption’
President of the family division at the High Court has emphasised 'with as much force as possible' that adoption law remains the same
The most senior judge in the family courts, Sir James Munby, has reiterated that a recent ruling has not changed the law on adoption.
In a court judgement, published today, the president of the [...]
Call for review of special guardianship orders
The British Association for Adoption and Fostering (BAAF) has called for a review of special guardianship orders (SGOs) amid a sharp rise in numbers being granted and concerns about the way they are used.
Speaking at a conference on the subject in London, John Simmonds, director of policy, research and development at BAAF, said that while [...]
Legal aid procedures causing problems for the Family Court, says the President
Sir James Munby, President of the Family Division, says that problems with the quality of decision-making by the Legal Aid Agency, and the complexity of the process for applying for legal aid, is, in some private family law cases, skewing the court process , and risks undermining positive outcomes for children and parents.
Speaking at the [...]
Council childcare lawyer sees rise in use of e-Courtbundles after pilot success
There is huge scope for the use of e-Courtbundles in care proceedings, a solicitor leading a pilot project between Nottinghamshire County Council and Nottinghamshire Family Court has predicted.
The deployment of an e-Courtbundle in a case last month was thought to be the first time the system had been used in live care proceedings in the [...]
