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FJC News

The following pages contain Newsletters, Events, Reports and News Updates from the FJC for the wide range of bodies who have an interest in the family justice system - more information can be found on the FJC website.

Latest News:

  • On 1st January 2012 the Peninsula Family Justice Council will be moving to a new address with new administrators.  The website http://www.pfjc.co.uk will be discontinued, although there will be a page on the national FJC website.

    New contact details:
    Sally Veasey & Schannel Dunkley
    PFJC Administrators
    Peninsula Family Justice Council
    c/o Exeter Combined Court
    Southernhay Gardens
    Exeter
    EX1 1UH

    Direct lines:

    Sally Veasey 01392 415563

    Schannel Dunkley 01392 415585

    Email:

    This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

    This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

    Many thanks from Norman, Monica and Jenny to all PFJC members and all those who have given their support and helped make our events and website such a success.
  • Family Justice Review Report - The Family Justice Review panel today published its final report which announces a package of recommendations aimed at tackling delays in the family justice system and to make sure that children and families are given the service they deserve. Read the press release here.

    The key recommendations are:

    • A new six month time limit in care cases so delays are significantly reduced.
    • Enabling people to make their own arrangements for their children when they separate, and only use courts when necessary.
    • Overhauling the family justice system so that agencies and professionals work together with greater coherence to improve the experience and outcomes for children and families.
  • Cafcass Agreement Review - Joint message from Sir Nicholas Wall, President of the Family Division and Anthony Douglas CBE, the Chief Executive of Cafcass regarding a review of their Agreement and the next steps.
  • Family Justice Review Consultation - The Family Justice Council has published a guide written for children and young people explaining the changes proposed by the Family Justice Review Panel and offering the opportunity for young people to respond.

    Deadline for responses is 23rd June 2011.

  • Independent Mediation - Information for Judges, Magistrates and Legal Advisors, Guide to Family Applications and Mediation Information and Assessment Meetings, What the Family Courts expect from parents –  download FJC guidance distributed to family judiciary, magistrates, legal advisors and court manager.

  • Infant Contact: Family Justice Council debate and panel discussion - On 8th December 2010 the Family Justice Council, in conjunction with Coram, is holding a debate and panel discussion entitled ‘Infant Contact: Keeping the baby in mind'.

  • Arrangements to assist CAFCASS pending implementation of the Family Justice Review - download the agreement which replaces the Interim Guidance, which expired on 30 September 2010.

  • Revised Protocol for referrals of families to Supported Child Contact Centres by Judges and Magistrates - Attached is a revised protocol for judges and magistrates regarding referrals of families to Supported Child Contact Centres.

  • The Annual Local FJC Conference 26th April 2010 - An interesting and informative day in which we were all welcomed to the conference by the newly appointed President of the Family Division, Sir Nicholas Wall. See our July newslettter for full details.

  • The Family Justice Review - A review of the family justice system has been commissioned by the Ministry of Justice, the Department for Education, and the Welsh Assembly Government. Written evidence is welcome from those involved in the family justice system via the on-line questionnaire. Deadline is 30 September 2010.

  • New Members - The Council has been pleased to welcome: Heather Payne, who replaced Ros Proops as the paediatric member of the Council. Heather is a Consultant Paediatrician with the Gwent Healthcare NHS Trust, a Senior Lecturer in Child Health, Cardiff University and Associate Dean for Educational Support and Disability, School of Postgraduate Medical and Dental Education, Cardiff University. Alison Russell QC, who replaced Stephen Cobb QC. Alison is a senior family barrister at Coram Chambers, London. Nick Goodwin from the Ministry of Justice, who replaced Sheridan Greenland.

  • Using Overseas Experts - The Council approved a paper produced by the Experts Committee on good practice in instructing experts from overseas. It will be distributed to the Family Criminal Interface Committee, via the RCPCH and Family Law. It will also be sent to the Law Society Family Law Committee, Cafcass and Cafcass Cymru, and suggested for incorporation into the JSB Bench Book.

  • Parental Perspectives on the Family Justice System in England and Wales. This study was undertaken by Joan Hunt, Senior Research Fellow at the Oxford Centre for Family Law, University of Oxford on behalf of the FJC.  It reviewed 51 empirical research studies and 23 official reports, all of which concern parental perspectives on various aspects of the family justice system since the Children Act 1989. The report can be found at: http://www.family-justice-council.org.uk/publications.htm

  • New FJC Working Group - Children Giving Evidence in Care Cases. Following the judgment of the Court of Appeal (Lords Justices Wall, Wilson and Rimer in the case of Re W) [[2010] EWCA Civ 57], which removed the presumption that a child should be called to give evidence only in exceptional cases, the President asked Lord Justice Thorpe to chair an FJC working group to examine the questions raised by the Court. The full judgment can be found at www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Civ/2010/57.html. To get a wide interdisciplinary view, the membership of the group includes representatives from social work, the legal professions, child mental health specialists and the office of the Children’s Commissioner. It hopes to commission research and to provide useful guidelines to courts. As part of its work it is keen to gather information about cases that arise where consideration is being given to whether a child or young person should give evidence and the decisions taken by the courts. It has requested information from other jurisdictions and from the local FJCs.

  • The Role of the FJC Education and Training Sub-Committee. The Education and Training Sub-Committee was established in order to advise the FJC on the continuing need for inter-disciplinary education and training within, and across, the family justice system.  Its role includes the identification of opportunities to develop and deliver such training and of ways in which relevant organisations, professional bodies and government departments might best be involved in supporting its remit. Recent projects have included updating the FJC’s Guide to the Family Justice System and a mapping exercise of the inter-disciplinary education and training available to new entrants to the key professional disciplines, both of which are now available on the FJC website.  Current work arising from the findings of the mapping exercise includes a proposed project to be undertaken jointly with the Social Care Institute for Excellence to support the training of social workers in courtroom skills and the preparation of cases for court hearings. The Sub-Committee would be pleased to hear of training events or material developed at local level, and can assist in sharing resources more widely. It is also able to offer advice or provide suggestions on suitable topics for training events. If Local FJCs would like to see the development of training material in a particular area, suggestions would be welcomed by the Sub-Committee, and may be made through Paula at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

See our News Archive for past FJC news