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Researching Reform

Researching Reform

Daily Archives: August 10, 2018

MP Calls For Government Review Of CAFCASS

10 Friday Aug 2018

Posted by Natasha in child welfare, Researching Reform, social services, social work

≈ 87 Comments

A debate in the House of Commons which took place on 18th July, has led to an MP calling for a government review into child welfare body, CAFCASS.

The discussion comes after a petition on website Change.org asking the government to investigate CAFCASS policy, family court transparency and training for child welfare professionals, amassed over 116,000 signatures.

Labour MP for Birmingham Yardley, Jess Phillips, hosted the debate, which looked at ways in which the government could protect victims of domestic abuse in the family courts. Jess chose to focus on the cross examination of alleged victims of domestic violence by alleged and proven domestic abuse offenders and CAFCASS training.

During the discussion, Jess confirmed that she had received 199 pages of testimonials the morning of the debate, which she said contained around 10 to 13 testimonials on each page. She then read some of the testimonials out:

“CAFCASS is not working in the best interests of the children, who are victims of domestic abuse themselves”;

“CAFCASS is enabling the perpetrators of abuse to gain more control”;

“CAFCASS did not talk to my children, who, too, are victims. Their voices were nowhere on the accounts”;

“They think that abusive partners are good dads”;

“They were incompetent, stupid, easily taken in by a manipulative perpetrator and aggressive towards me. One woman couldn’t even be bothered to know my name. They called my 999 call a ‘minor disagreement’ in their official records. They are a complete disgrace”;

and,

“I, too, have had a terrible time with CAFCASS and the family courts. They were more supportive of my abusive ex than actually listening to my kids. Also, when my son made a statement and showed signs of abusive behaviour, they continued to put him through the court and pooh-poohed and belittled everything that we had to say.”

The government’s response to concerns raised by Jess and other MPs was predictably defensive, however the debate is worth a read.

The call to have CAFCASS investigated comes at the end of the debate. Jess sums up the problem in the following way:

“On the issue of CAFCASS workers receiving appropriate training, I say to the Minister that it is not working. There needs to be a Government review of CAFCASS and the way its workers are interacting with victims, as well as of settings where families go for visits.”

Researching Reform spoke with several families about these developments and we only heard one positive story. When we reached out to these families, most were still calling the body by its nickname, CRAPCASS.

 

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Interesting Things

10 Friday Aug 2018

Posted by Natasha in Interesting Things, Researching Reform

≈ 4 Comments

Research

A new study suggests that child protection cases where children are being returned to their parents, are breaking down in the long term. The researchers at East Anglia University’s school of social work make the claims in their latest report, which is part of a series of papers looking at reforming the care system. 

The research was produced to offer insight into how two high profile cases (re B and re B-S), have impacted child protection cases. The two cases have made it much harder for councils to push adoption orders through.

The report takes the view that the family courts and councils are increasing their use of supervision orders and Special Guardianship Orders in order to meet timescales and fend off austerity measures. The stats in the report suggest that within the time periods they examined, 25% of supervision orders were unsuccessful in the long run. Jonathan Dickens, who is head of East Anglia University’s school of social work and who co-led the study, told Community Care that whilst only a small number of orders broke down, difficulties experienced by some special guardians highlighted the need for joint support, including financial support, with adopters.

Do be careful with this research. While some of the observations are sound, the conclusions are not, including the view that courts are issuing supervision orders rather than adoption orders because they are under pressure both in terms of time and resources. There is also a clear push by the research team to increase adoption orders, which is underlined by their view that adoption is the best way forward in cases where orders break down. We know from scientific evidence and research that this is not always the case, and that more often than not, parents can, with proper support, love and care for their children very well.

East Anglia was granted the funds for this research by the ESRC, whose council is made up of individuals who, amongst other organisations, work for the Home Office, and Department of Health and Social Care.

Child Welfare Complaints

For the fist time, the latest Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman decisions show a marked drop in the number of complaints around child welfare proceedings. We don’t know if the drop is related to our post explaining that the ombudsman cannot investigate such cases. You can access the latest decisions here. 

Child Sexual Abuse In Football

The findings of the Football Association’s independent inquiry into the historical child sex abuse scandal are due to be published shortly. The investigation is led by barrister Clive Sheldon QC, whose latest report will outline the key failings that allowed abusers to prey on children in the past. Sheldon previously acted as counsel for the Health Secretary, then Jeremy Hunt, over a new junior doctors’ contract. 

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