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157084

	registered interest
	date	20/11/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	CAFCASS
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure that Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service staff dealing with child protection cases involving children from minority religious faiths, such as the Charedim, have the necessary expertise to assess the impact of faith on those children when they advise the courts.
	tabling member printed	Lord Warner
	uin	HL3029
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/12/2014 answer text <p /> <p>All Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass) practitioners are qualified social workers with experience of working with children and families to represent the best interests of children within family proceedings. It is the practitioner's responsibility to identify any diversity issues, including a child or family’s faith, in any case and to assess any safeguarding or welfare issues. Practitioners will analyse each individual child's circumstances, taking account of relevant aspects of the Welfare Checklist in section 1 of the Children Act 1989, when assessing their needs and how these are best met.</p><p> </p><p>Each Cafcass service area has a responsibility to identify the diversity needs of groups of children living in their area who they are working with, and to take action accordingly. Cafcass’ Equality and Diversity Strategy (2013-15) explains how it shares best practice across teams and service areas, collating lessons learnt from a range of sources. Where staff attend training courses, the learning is shared with the rest of the service area and communicated to Cafcass’ group of Diversity Ambassadors. Representatives from local groups are invited to team meetings to discuss the work that they do and practitioners are encouraged to use these groups as a resource when considering casework decisions.</p> answering member printed Lord Faulks question first answered 04/12/2014 16:02:53 answering member 4183 label Biography information for Lord Faulks
	tabling member	1732 label Biography information for Lord Warner

598106

	registered interest
	date	10/10/2016
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	CAFCASS
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact on the protection of children in care and children in need of delays in the work undertaken by the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service.
	tabling member printed	Lord Ouseley
	uin	HL2135
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/10/2016 answer text <p>Data collected by the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass) shows that, since April 2012, the average time to complete care and supervision applications has reduced from 48 weeks to 30 weeks. These are the proceedings most commonly initiated by a local authority and Cafcass has played a key role in working with other parts of the family justice system to achieve that reduction.</p><p> </p><p>Since April 2012, Cafcass has also exceeded its targets to allocate at least 97% of the open public law care workload to an appointed Children’s Guardian, and to allocate care applications to an appointed Children’s Guardian in no more than 3 working days.</p> answering member printed Lord Keen of Elie question first answered 24/10/2016 13:21:08 answering member 4538 label Biography information for Lord Keen of Elie
	tabling member	2170 label Biography information for Lord Ouseley

89861

	registered interest
	date	29/08/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	CAFCASS
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many complaints have been (a) made and (b) upheld against the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service in the last three years.
	tabling member constituency	Newbury
	tabling member printed	Richard Benyon
	uin	207300
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/09/2014 answer text <p>The following table sets out the number of complaints received by Cafcass in each of the last three years:</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Financial</strong></p><p><strong>Year</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Number of complaints </strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2011-12</p></td><td><p>1,264</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2012-13</p></td><td><p>1,496</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2013-14</p></td><td><p>1,596</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p><strong> </strong></p><p>In 2012 Cafcass simplified their complaints process, reducing the number of stages involved from three to one and ending the classification of complaints as ‘upheld’. Figures for the number of upheld complaints during this period do not, therefore, exist. The focus of the complaints system is now on putting things right for service users while their case is ongoing so that any necessary remedial action can be taken.</p><p> </p><p>The rising trend shown by the figures is, in part, a reflection of the increase in the volume of cases which Cafcass dealt with during this period. However, the main factors which have contributed to the rising trend are Cafcass’ focus on raising awareness of the complaints process for service users.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Bermondsey and Old Southwark answering member printed Simon Hughes grouped question UIN 207284 question first answered 05/09/2014 15:12:49 answering member 194 label Biography information for Simon Hughes
	tabling member	1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon

89868

	registered interest
	date	29/08/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	CAFCASS
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many complaints have been made against the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service in the last three years; and how many such complaints have been upheld.
	tabling member constituency	Newbury
	tabling member printed	Richard Benyon
	uin	207284
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/09/2014 answer text <p>The following table sets out the number of complaints received by Cafcass in each of the last three years:</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Financial</strong></p><p><strong>Year</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Number of complaints </strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2011-12</p></td><td><p>1,264</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2012-13</p></td><td><p>1,496</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2013-14</p></td><td><p>1,596</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p><strong> </strong></p><p>In 2012 Cafcass simplified their complaints process, reducing the number of stages involved from three to one and ending the classification of complaints as ‘upheld’. Figures for the number of upheld complaints during this period do not, therefore, exist. The focus of the complaints system is now on putting things right for service users while their case is ongoing so that any necessary remedial action can be taken.</p><p> </p><p>The rising trend shown by the figures is, in part, a reflection of the increase in the volume of cases which Cafcass dealt with during this period. However, the main factors which have contributed to the rising trend are Cafcass’ focus on raising awareness of the complaints process for service users.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Bermondsey and Old Southwark answering member printed Simon Hughes grouped question UIN 207300 question first answered 05/09/2014 15:12:49 answering member 194 label Biography information for Simon Hughes
	tabling member	1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon

1132091

	registered interest
	date	13/06/2019
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	CAFCASS
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate his Department has made on the number of cases undertaken by Cafcass in each year from 2010.
	tabling member constituency	Sheffield, Heeley
	tabling member printed	Louise Haigh
	uin	264429
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/06/2019 answer text <p>The number of cases undertaken by Cafcass in each year from 2010 is as follows:</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>2009-10</p></td><td><p>56, 502</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2010-11</p></td><td><p>55, 538</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2011-12</p></td><td><p>54, 852</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2012-13</p></td><td><p>59, 226</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2013-14</p></td><td><p>60, 629</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2014-15</p></td><td><p>48, 898</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2015-16</p></td><td><p>54, 226</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2016-17</p></td><td><p>59, 286</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2017-18</p></td><td><p>60, 904</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2018-19</p></td><td><p>62, 347</p></td></tr></tbody></table> answering member constituency Blackpool North and Cleveleys answering member printed Paul Maynard question first answered 18/06/2019 16:47:26 answering member 3926 label Biography information for Paul Maynard
	tabling member	4473 label Biography information for Louise Haigh

1133584

	registered interest
	date	20/06/2019
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	CAFCASS
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many family court advisers were employed by Cafcass in each year from 2010 to date.
	tabling member constituency	Sheffield, Heeley
	tabling member printed	Louise Haigh
	uin	267259
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/06/2019 answer text <p>The number of family court advisers who were employed by Cafcass in each year from 2010 to date:</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Month and Year</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Number of Family Court Advisors </strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>March 2010</p></td><td><p>1120</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>March 2011</p></td><td><p>1116</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>March 2012</p></td><td><p>1163</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>March 2013</p></td><td><p>1198</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>March 2014</p></td><td><p>1226</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>March 2015</p></td><td><p>1200</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>March 2016</p></td><td><p>1192</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>March 2017</p></td><td><p>1146</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>March 2018</p></td><td><p>1295</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>March 2019</p></td><td><p>1337</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p> answering member constituency Blackpool North and Cleveleys answering member printed Paul Maynard question first answered 25/06/2019 13:27:56 answering member 3926 label Biography information for Paul Maynard
	tabling member	4473 label Biography information for Louise Haigh

539680

	registered interest
	date	18/07/2016
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	CAFCASS
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent assessment her Department has made of the performance of Cafcass.
	tabling member constituency	Bootle
	tabling member printed	Peter Dowd
	uin	43059
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/07/2016 answer text <p>The Government is confident that the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass) continues to provide high quality social work advice to support decisions by the courts in cases involving children. This reflects the outcome of the inspection in 2014 by the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted) which judged that as a minimum all children, young people and families receive a service where the quality and effectiveness of Cafcass practice is ‘good’.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, the department regularly assesses Cafcass’ efficiency and effectiveness and holds Cafcass to account for its performance, governance and stewardship of public funds.</p> answering member constituency Bracknell answering member printed Dr Phillip Lee grouped question UIN 43060 question first answered 26/07/2016 16:11:22 answering member 3921 label Biography information for Dr Phillip Lee
	tabling member	4397 label Biography information for Peter Dowd

539681

	registered interest
	date	18/07/2016
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	CAFCASS
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether her Department plans to carry out a review of the organisational efficiency and effectiveness of Cafcass.
	tabling member constituency	Bootle
	tabling member printed	Peter Dowd
	uin	43060
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/07/2016 answer text <p>The Government is confident that the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass) continues to provide high quality social work advice to support decisions by the courts in cases involving children. This reflects the outcome of the inspection in 2014 by the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted) which judged that as a minimum all children, young people and families receive a service where the quality and effectiveness of Cafcass practice is ‘good’.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, the department regularly assesses Cafcass’ efficiency and effectiveness and holds Cafcass to account for its performance, governance and stewardship of public funds.</p> answering member constituency Bracknell answering member printed Dr Phillip Lee grouped question UIN 43059 question first answered 26/07/2016 16:11:22 answering member 3921 label Biography information for Dr Phillip Lee
	tabling member	4397 label Biography information for Peter Dowd

987952

	registered interest
	date	15/10/2018
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	CAFCASS
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his department has any plans for the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service to be regulated by an independent governing body.
	tabling member constituency	Welwyn Hatfield
	tabling member printed	Grant Shapps
	uin	179170
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/10/2018 answer text <p>The Ministry of Justice has no plans for the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass) to be regulated by an independent governing body. Cafcass is already subject to independent inspection by the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills (Ofsted).</p> answering member constituency Charnwood answering member printed Edward Argar question first answered 18/10/2018 10:55:30 answering member 4362 label Biography information for Edward Argar
	tabling member	1582 label Biography information for Grant Shapps

1253279

	registered interest
	date	18/11/2020
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	CAFCASS
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent discussions he has had with the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (a) management, (b) staff, (c) trade union representatives, (d) users and (e) other stakeholders on maintaining the effectiveness of that service.
	tabling member constituency	Dwyfor Meirionnydd
	tabling member printed	Liz Saville Roberts
	uin	117326
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/11/2020 answer text <p>The Ministry of Justice monitors the effectiveness of Cafcass thorough a partnership relationship which includes regular contact between Departmental officials and senior Cafcass executives. The Ministry of Justice is represented on a weekly Programme Board held by Cafcass to monitor the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on its performance, staff and users. The Permanent Secretary, as Principal Accounting Officer, has also been in regular communication with the Chief Executive and Chair of Cafcass to discuss how services to users can be effectively maintained, and how Cafcass staff are being supported, during current restrictions. Ministers have oversight of the performance of the wider family justice system and agree key priorities through the national Family Justice Board which includes Cafcass and relevant stakeholders in the family justice area.</p><p>Cafcass, as an Arms’ Length Body (ALB) of the MoJ, employs and regulates relations with its staff independently of the Ministry of Justice. As an ALB, discussions with trade union representatives are a matter for Cafcass only.</p> answering member constituency Cheltenham answering member printed Alex Chalk question first answered 23/11/2020 15:43:21 answering member 4481 label Biography information for Alex Chalk
	tabling member	4521 label Biography information for Liz Saville Roberts