By Anthony Jones, Solicitor, Chafes Solicitors LLP
David Norgrove, Chair of the Family Justice Review Panel, has released his report upon resolving the problems within the Family Justice System. The report suggests that significant reform is required to tackle delays and ensure that children and families get the service they deserve.
David Norgrove, Chair of the Family Justice Review Panel, said:
“Children are the most important people in the Family Justice System. Family Justice is under huge strain. Cases take far too long and delays are likely to rise. Children can wait well over a year for their futures to be settled. This is shocking. Our recommendations aim to tackle these issues, to bring greater coherence through organisational change and better management, making the system more able to cope with current and future pressures and to divert more issues away from the Court where appropriate”
There are many suggestions within the report dealing with both Public Law and Private Law issues concerning families. The report suggests a simpler service for families who are separating so that they focus on their children and reach an agreement without going to Court. The suggestions include:
•A statement within legislation reinforcing the importance of children continuing to have a meaningful relationship with both parents alongside the need to protect children from harm.
•For arrangements to be set out for children covering their care, education, health, finance and time spent with each parent by using Parenting Agreements. These agreements should also reinforce the importance of a relationship with grandparents and other relatives and friends involved in the children’s lives.
•An on-line and telephone help point to assist people to decide the appropriate way forward for them.
•Access to mediation/dispute resolution and to Separated Parents Information Programmes to help separated parents understand the impact of conflict on children and to reach an agreement.
•The Court process supports cases that have serious welfare issues and allows for cases to be dealt with according to their complexity.
Mediation and collaborative law are already available to parties who separate to assist them in resolving their dispute. Where mediation is not appropriate then negotiations can hopefully be resolved through Solicitors. Issuing Court proceedings should always be a last resort.
Consultation upon the Norgrove Report will close on the 23rd June 2011 and the final report will be delivered in the autumn. It of course remains to be seen whether the recommendations in the final report will resolve the Family Justice System problems.
To discuss your options in more detail contact Anthony Jones at Chafes Solicitors on 01625 531676 or email anthony.jones@chafes.co.uk.
APR
