Interesting comments from the President - ref to Today programme interview with adopters. Seems to be accepting that adoption disruption rates are nearer 25% than the lower rates from the Bristol Study. Do we therefore need to think more carefully about how we 'do' adoption?
What we do at the moment is 'clunky'. Set order for contact at the outset and suspect no one goes near it again to vary it. In most cases, ought we to have a review of contact arrangements 2 years down the track?
Emotions will have lessened and matters settled down - the Family Justice Council held evening seminars in March on adoption in 21st Century. One adopter said she always operated on basis she 'shared' the children. All these sessions are now available on line.
Go to Family Justice Council website and click on 'recent news' - final session is lecture from Baroness Hale.
President pays tribute to the hard work of those in the family justice system for keeping the show on the road. Other jurisdictions haven't been able to keep going. 'Hats off' to everyone.
What of the future? We won't go back to how we were. Will continue to be remote hearings. We have learned that a number of litigants prefer remote hearings for the 'right kind of hearing'. They can see the faces of their representatives!
For some lay parties however, very difficult to join on a phone - while professionals have access to better tech.
Also if you come to court you have people around you to help you - so these two different experiences have to be considered. We shouldn't rush into a decision about the shape of things to come.
hoping the 21st June lifts restrictions but may not lift social distancing, or we may need to be cautious. time is on our side - we need to think and give guidance to all. Gradual organic process that develops into more settled way of working.
Judges and magistrates are being encouraged to come back to court buildings but doesn't mean all hearings will be attended. more examination of the various experiences and a final report.
But need to reflect that many judges also work on civil side, so we need to work alongside each other. Financial remedies court have different perspectives also. President will continue to offer guidance but the DFJs and local teams will interpret that to fit their court.
President pleased he can trust people to make right decisions in context of guidance. Continue to have local discussions as we move forward.
Public law working group - problems with system and back log of cases, in crisis pre COVID. Those issues have not gone away. In private law, figures rise each month.
ability to engage with parents in private law is non existent - we dont know they exist until they make the application!
Public law guidelines to be fully activated by July. Tighten up process. Pre proceedings planning and preparation improves outcomes.
Meetings of local Family Justice Board are crucial - but they need re-energising and support. Even talk of some money (!) being available for that.
Two points about resources - CAFCASS are at saturation point. Case loads at maximum. so in every case we must only trouble CAFCASS where it really is necessary.
An addendum report takes 17 hours on average to complete so we need to avoid this if possible.
One of positive aspects of pandemic is that we are coming out of our silos and speaking openly to one another.
We need to maximise the number of sitting days and book as many Recorders as possible. Please sign up to sit! must 'grind away' at back log.
Final thing - 'well being' . Everyone of you will have felt totally overborne by the digital experience. Working day morphs into home life into a wholly unhealthy way. Not the responsiblity of individuals to sacrifice health to work beyond capacity.
Please respect each other's boundaries and your own. Don't send emails late at night or expect a response. We must take control.
But thank you all profoundly for what you have done and your continuing commitment.
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