MINISTRY OF JUSTICE
News Release (029-08) issued by The Government News Network on 1
April 2008
New processes to
put the welfare of children at the heart of care proceedings take
effect today.
The Public Law Outline introduces simpler and more streamlined
court procedures and promotes the earlier identification of key
issues in the process including;
* Setting court timetables focused on the needs to the
child;
* Ensuring local authorities are better and more fully
prepared before making applications to the courts;
* Cutting
the current six stages of the court process to four;
The Public Law Outline, an initiative led by the Judiciary of
England and Wales, also aims to promote better co-operation
between all parties involved in care and supervision cases.
Speaking at the launch of the Public Law Outline, family justice
minister Bridget Prentice said;
"Children and families involved in care proceedings are
among the most vulnerable in society. We should try and prevent
children from having to be removed by the courts from their
parents' care. It should be a last resort after all other
options have been explored, such as care from grandparents or
other family members.
"But where a child is suffering abuse or neglect, court
intervention may be the right option. Improving the care
proceedings process in the courts and reducing delays will go a
considerable way to better meet the needs of these children."
Children's minister Kevin Brennan said:
"If we are to achieve our vision of making this the best
country in the world to grow up, we need to focus our attention on
the most vulnerable and disadvantaged children in our society.
Children in care have been marginalised for too long and allowed
to fail. Our Children and Young Person's Bill will ensure
that family and friends care is always the first option for these
children. But when children do have to come into care we want to
make sure they are well looked after, which is why we have just
issued new guidance to local authorities."
The Public Law Outline procedures are supported by revised
statutory guidance for local authorities to assist them in
preparing care applications to the court produced by the
Department for Children, Schools and Families and the Welsh
Assembly Government. That guidance places a strong emphasis on
close communications with families and on exploring options for
children to be supported and cared for by their wider families
while making clear that timely action should always be taken
through the courts to safeguard children when necessary.
The development of these reforms reflect the joined-up approach
that has been taken covering the full process of bringing before
the family courts those children who are believed by local
authorities to have suffered, or to be likely to suffer, abuse and neglect.
The government is implementing key reforms to the child care
proceedings system in England and Wales, following a review of the
system completed in 2006. The reforms will improve the system and
provide better outcomes for children while ensuring that resources
are used in a timely and effective way.
Notes for Editors
1. The Public Law Outline will replace the existing Protocol for
Judicial Case Management in Public Law Children Act Cases from 1
April 2008. It is available from http://www.justice.gov.uk/guidance/careproceedings.htm
2. The Department for Children, Schools and Families has
published revised statutory guidance (Volume 1 'Court
Orders' of the Children Act 1989 Guidance) to help local
authorities prepare and commence care proceedings. The Welsh
Assembly is publishing its own version of the guidance for Welsh
local authorities. The guidance will come into force in both
England and Wales in April 2008.
http://www.justice.gov.uk