The Family Justice System Young People’s Board, which was set up by Cafcass in 2006, released their top five wishes for 2013 in January of this year and the wish list is exactly what you might imagine – the vast majority of the wishes focus on the system and the adults around them listening to children and supporting them. It’s all about the Voice of The Child.
The Board itself was set up to help Cafcass become more “young person friendly“, an embarrassing position to find itself in when that is the central premise for its existence, but the Board is made up of lots of young people (32, 14-25 year olds as explained on the National Mediation Website) and it’s no surprise that three out of the five wishes involve being listened to better. The other two focus around general support and speeding things up so cases don’t drag on. This sentiment should not be confused with the view held by government that the family justice system needs to speed up adoption times and so on – the Board, to my mind at least, seems to be focusing more on the general concept of efficiency rather than speed for speed’s sake with defined times.
You can check out the Wish List below:
The Board’s top five wishes for the family justice system for 2013 are that:
- Cases don’t drag on and are always focused on our needs
- There is more support when we just need to speak to someone
- We find a way for the court to keep us informed about our cases such as when big decisions are going to be made about our lives
- Help is available when things get tough and everyone’s arguments stress us out
- We have a way to tell the people involved in our case about the good and bad bits and know they’d listen
Given that this Board was set up in 2006, things do seem to be moving at a snail’s pace and we have yet to see if other stakeholders and indeed Cafcass themselves are really listening to children, but the Board in itself is a positive development, so we won’t knock it too much, and we’re always very happy to see children being included.
Cafcass, the public might say, all is not quite forgiven, but things seem to be moving in the right direction…..
Cafcass and the rest of them in a “childs best interest” can say and do as they do, just talk and that is it, they will never listen to the children, kids are an industrie creating jobs. Full stop.
To learn of the horrors of our poor little children who cry out for their parents or grandparents then people have to be at ground level not in offices.
Maggie.
They should abolish Cafcass and sack all it’s officers immediately and start over. Call it something different and put down strict guidelines for hiring new officers, one criteria they must all have is being a parent!
Listen to these young people ….. more support is needed BEFORE Cafcass become involved, before the situation gets so bad that Family Proceedings are resorted to. Services should be widely available for all children who need them, and particulalry in the the case of confllicted family break-up. Serious consideration needs to be given to these services being independently accessible to children and young people – without the need for parental consent. This sort of gatekeeping prevents many young people accessing the support that they need.
The sole purpose of CAFCASS is for each of the individuals concerned is to keep their jobs and make money. No children in the system equals no job and no money. It is in CAFCASS best interest. It would be interesting to find out how many Families got their children back AFTER CAFCASS made their SECRET REPORTS to the Court. Their VICTIMS have no defence to these SECRET REPORTS.
It would seem, on reading the comments here, that Cafcass are not thought of very well, is that an understatement? I think so. Cafcass do “window dressing”, they have to, but thats all they do to placate us. Unless these mostly uneducated robots get some proper training in the field of how children act and think they will continue to stumble on as though they know what they are doing, we all know they don’t!
The mind set of these people is to be in charge of any parent or child they become involved with. They are egotistical and treat you with distain, never putting you at ease. We all know they fabricate evidence on a daily basis to support their own position in any given court case, usually for the mother. Unless Cafcass get a huge injection of honesty, then I urge you not to trust any of them. I know all there is to know about Cafcass, believe me, they have little conscience, and that’s why they are selected for the job in the first place, to have a lack of feeling and compassion, is a bonus for them. Im sorry, its the truth. Cafcass need to be removed and quick, they are doing more harm than good.
I have always said the truth lies with the Nation, but now the truth lies with the thousands of stolen children in care who have a gagging order from our wonderful Mr Jack Straw in 2009. Cafcass are appointed along with the childrens laywers to be the voices for the children in a corrupt system, it is only when people them selfs experience cafcass and the lawyers who stay quite, because of their jobs that the people learn the truth, but having said that, where can any of the thousands of children and parents turn to for justice, NO WHERE. So yes why was cafcass set up in the first place be the voice for the children in a system that states IN A CHILDS BEST INTEREST. OOPS, SORRY IN THE BEST INTEREST OF MONEY AND JOBS.
MAGGIE.
Yes, window dressing for a negligent and at worst corrupt system, cafcass, child solicitors, gals, experts are all in fact party to the most vile cover up in abusing children and their families. There are the social services spin doctors. Think I am a revengeful parent, just ask my children who got caught up and their lives ruined by the ‘state care’. And its no reason for forced adoptions its just digging your hole deeper and deeper. Like a seriously bad ‘state parent’ you have all managed to destroy thousands of children wrongfully removed from loving and caring real parents. Your spade is getting worn out and the hole so deep you are in danger of never getting out. Time your apologies went out and the system scapped to make way for one that is in the real interests of children.
The very young ones had words spoken for them by by the CafCrass guardian. I have a copy of all the lies that were uttered by the creature in our case. I got the copy from a whistleblower..
it would be very interesting to find figures of how many children were ever returned home, I bet it is one in a million. We have to find a way to get to the whole nation to warn people of a corrupt system not only in the child stealing, but it is happening with the elderly, put in care homes their houses sold, my god if we do not get to the nation to bring out the truth, then no one will have a chance of a life
FROM THE CRADLE TO THE GRAVE.
Remember Hitler and his SS are back yes with his doctors.
millions of jewish people and children murderd now its not the jews its the world.
Maggie.
Let’s face it, there’s good and bad in every organisation. I’ve been involved in a protracted family law case for many years. Throughout this period we have had the same Cafcass officer. whilst I sometimes jump to question their decisions, it usually turns out to be in the best interest. Believe me the case I speak about is not your usual run of the mill argument about contact, the case has and continues to challenge all of the professionals involved.
Luckily the Cafcass officer involved has never once changed their opinion that I as the child’s father should see his daughter! (Yes I’m a man and Cafcass support me!) All I can say is don’t believe the Cafcass is a sexist man hating organisation, it’s not about equality in my opinion it’s about telling the truth, forgetting about what your ex did or didn’t do. Focus on your child and don’t get sidetracked in to others political arguments. They will not help your case. It’s far too easy to jump on the “scrap Cafcass” bandwagon. Lets face it, it’s not a perfect organisation, but replacing it will probably land us with something far worse.
It’s the exception to the rule that proves the rule in your case Half Full. Cafcass are mainly and usually against fathers and pro mothers, to the detriment of our children who lose their dads by the thousands each year. With great respect Always half full, sorry I couldn’t disagree with you more. Cafcass, lets get rid and quick!