Inter-disciplinary Training

"If only everybody understood how the family justice system worked it would be so much easier to do what I have to do.”

This is not an unusual comment from old hands in family justice – judges, guardians, lawyers and even experts. However, the family justice system necessarily draws on the work of many whose main role is elsewhere, and who only occasionally get drawn into cases before the courts. Although the ultimate goal is to increase the knowledge and skills of everyone working in or with family justice, the system will continue to rely on people whose experience of working with children and families has not brought them in contact with the courts or legal proceedings. What do these ‘new entrants’ know about family justice? How much have they learned about what the family justice system does in their academic or professional training?

Over the last year the Education and Training Committee of the national FJC has set about collecting information to answer these questions. The result of this mapping exercise’ is now available here. This has identified just how little background many who start working in family justice have and the efforts that need to be made to continue to ensure that new generations of experienced practitioners are available for the future.

Employers such as Cafcass, CAFCASS CYMRU and local authorities have responsibilities to those they recruit. Professional associations such as Resolution, the Association of Lawyers for Children and the Family Bar Association make a major contribution to the development of their members. But everyone working in family justice has an interest in ensuring that standards improve. The Mapping Exercise Chart sets out brief details of the basic qualifications of new entrants to the various professions working in family justice.

Local FJCs have a valuable role in supporting the development of new entrants. This might be through training aimed at particular professional groups and/ or interdisciplinary events aimed at those who new to the work. Considering what initial training has already provided gives a basis for this further development.

The Mapping Exercise should help Local FJCs to enable new entrants to get the best from training events they provide. View the Mapping Exercise Chart