The
Department for Education (DfE) has funded a new, free-to-access website to support
professionals working with young people and families to understand and implement
changes in practice required to meet the statutory requirements under the Court
Orders and Pre-Proceedings Guidance 2014.
The
procedures surrounding court orders and pre-proceedings have changed
significantly. The Children and Families Act 2014 introduced a statutory time
limit for care and supervision cases. New rules on commissioning expert
evidence, and the Public Law Outline 2014, set out a streamlined process for
management of public law cases. In response to these developments, there have
been programmes of change in local authority children services across the
country.
Dez
Holmes, Director of Research in Practice, said, 'Many practitioners in this area
have spoken to us about the need for clear and practical guidance, training and
a calm steer as these changes take effect locally. They are asking for
structured support with pre-proceedings work in particular, which is key to
completing cases within 26 weeks.'
The
website and the resources have been produced by Research in Practice, drawing on
their experience of supporting a large network of local authorities in working
with children and families. This online learning resource provides a clear
summary of what the changes mean for the day-to-day work of professionals with
families. They aim to support the sector through the dissemination of policy
information, relevant high-quality research, and local practice examples. The
website is structured with the child’s journey in mind - from initial
identification of concerns for a child or young person, through pre-proceedings
work with children and families, to the process of making an application to
court.
The
resources on the new website include:
- summaries
of the statutory requirements, highlighting key issues for practice;
- videos
in which social workers, young people, legal representatives, members or the
judiciary, and policy leaders outline the context and content of the
guidance;
- links
to key resources from practice and research; and
- tools
for testing knowledge and embedding learning.
Dez
Holmes said, 'This online resource reflects the need in the sector for practical
guidance and support in meeting the new statutory requirements. Practitioners
and managers are keen not only to ensure that their practice complies with the
new guidance, but also that they can access and apply relevant research in order
to deliver the best possible service to children and young people within the
family court system. This website will help address those aims, providing a
range of varied resources that are useful to all who work in this area. I am
delighted that Research in Practice has been at the forefront in delivering
these.'
The
website of resources is now available to access online at
http://coppguidance.rip.org.uk/.
