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Continuing with the summary...

Assessing Risk of Harm to Children and Parents in Private Law Family Cases

#domesticabuse
#familycourts

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/upl…

“ Barnardos noted that their research had shown that Cafcass recommendations were “often at odds” with advice from Barnardo’s services which had been working directly with victims. “

“ Submissions noted that for very young children, the child’s voice can only be heard via their primary carer, but that parent’s knowledge of the child tends to be disregarded or automatically dismissed as self-serving.”

#familycourts
#domesticabuse

“As well as difficulties for young children, British Autism Advocate noted difficulties for children with learning difficulties in having their voices heard in family court proceedings.”

#familycourts
#Children

In practice, reviews of child arrangements appear uncommon, even in domestic abuse cases. This is despite all the research that indicates that spending time with an abusive parent can result in the continuing abuse of children and/or their non-abusive parent.

Without a review, and in the absence of further applications, the child may be left in arrangements that do not work for them.

#familycourts
#domesticabuse
#children

“ Even if it’s only once a year you could go back and ask “ Is this ok? Do you need this changing? And does something else need to happen?”

Young Person, Focus Group

#familycourts
#domesticabuse
#children

“Lawyers also raised concerns that so few children are separately represented. A LIP support service noted that courts would not appoint guardians unless they were specifically asked to do so, and LIPs had no idea they could make such a request.”

Self-represented disadvantage.