Family justice system 'damaging children'

Lawyers have welcomed the recommendations of the Norgrove report into the family justice in England and Wales. Former senior civil servant David Norgrove found that cases take far too long and children are being damaged by the current system, described by the Law Society as a national disgrace. Norgrove said with care and supervision cases now taking on average 56 weeks, and 61 weeks in care centres, "the life chances of already damaged children are further undermined by the very system that is supposed to protect them". He has called for a new Family Justice Service to be established, sponsored by the ministry of justice, with strong ties at both ministerial and official level with the department for education and the Welsh government. "Respondents to the consultation shared our deep concern about the way the system currently operates, and there was widespread agreement about our diagnosis." Norgrove said: "Every year 500,000 children and adults are involved in the family justice system," Norgrove said. "They turn to it at times of great stress and conflict. "It must deliver the best possible outcome for all the children and families who use it, because its decisions directly affect the lives and futures of all those involved, and have repercussions for society as a whole." Norgrove's key recommendations are: * A new six month time limit in care cases so delays are significantly reduced * Enabling people to make their own arrangements for their children when they separate, and only use courts when necessary * Overhauling the family justice system so that agencies and professionals work together with greater coherence to improve the experience and outcomes for children and families. Law Society chief executive Desmond Hudson said: "Children are at the heart of family justice and their welfare should be paramount. "Today's delays in public law cases amount to a national disgrace - many children in particular are being failed by the system. The report's recommendations will need study and action by all parts of the system - judges, lawyers, social workers, guardians and by the government too, because many of these changes will need resourcing. Even in this straightened times, the government has to find the money. "Legal aid cuts will lead to more people going to court unrepresented, and family courts slowing down even further. More people will have completely unrealistic expectations of the process because they haven't had a family solicitor's advice. "The report's overall aims should attract wide ranging support. We share its recognition of the need for radical and lasting change within family justice. "Despite the huge commitment shown by many of those working in family justice, the system is failing. Cases are taking too long, causing harm to children and families." Norgrove said the cost both to the taxpayer and often the individual is high but he is not convinced that current resources are spent in the most efficient and effective way. Cllr David Simmonds, chairman of the local government association's children and young people board, said children in care need to be saved from the years of uncertainty created by the current court system. "The government has recently challenged local authorities to remove the barriers that delay decisions in the adoption and fostering process," he said. "It must now play its part by implementing these recommendations to stop children and families from spending an unacceptable length of time going through the court. "Councils take their responsibilities towards children in their care extremely seriously and while we acknowledge that there is work to do to tackle the variation in performance across local authorities we want to work with Government to remove unnecessary obstacles and ensure children are in stable and loving homes wherever possible."