Thanks to Lisa Cohen from Jump

Birmingham and Black Country CAFCASS rated as inadequate by Ofsted
http://www.familylawweek.co.uk/site.aspx?i=ed32727

Ofsted report into Birmingham and Black Country CAFCASS services published
Oftsed has published it s latest area report on CAFCASS services for Birmingham and the Black Country.
Overall the service has been given a Grade 4 inadequate rating with inconsistencies found in assessment, case planning and recording and some unacceptable delays. In particular the report noted that in the Black Country area there is a problem with allocation of private law cases with waiting times of up to 20 weeks.
CAFCASS Chief Executive, Anthony Douglas responded by concentrating on the report’s acknowledgements of the progress being made at a national level
“I am pleased that the intensive improvements we are making to our services in Birmingham and the Black Country have been acknowledged. It will take eighteen months more to improve consistently across the country as we are changing fundamental working practices and that takes time."

The full text of the Ofsted report is available on their website, (http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/Ofsted-home/Publications-and-research/Browse-all-by/Documents-by-type/Cafcass/Cafcass-Birmingham-and-the-Black-Country-service-area/(language)/eng-GB)


MPs, agony aunts and journalists to meet over family justice system
http://www.familylawweek.co.uk/site.aspx?i=ed32732
Campaigining MPs to highlight continued concerns over family justice system
A group of MPs, led by John Hemming, has organised a meeting at the House of Commons with a group of journalists and media agony aunts to discuss the care system and family courts. Those involved include Camilla Cavendish of The Times, Sue Reid of the Daily Mail, Kate Hilpern who works for the Guardian and Independent and Denise Roberston, Agony Aunt on This Morning. They will be discussing a series of proposals including
Allowing social workers more time to see children and families and less time in front of computers
Continue progress towards transparency in the family courts
Allowing parents to have a second opinion
Providing public support for appeals and contesting care orders
Providing some public support for Mackenzie Friends
Expert evidence should only come from regulated professionals
All hearings should have anonymous judgments
Clayton v Clayton should not be reversed
Serious Case Review chairs should be independent and appointed independently
National guidance is needed to define what "risk of significant harm" means
The meeting will take place on 25 February 2009.


LSC announces training help for mediation suppliers
http://www.familylawweek.co.uk/site.aspx?i=ed32721
£100,000 in grants for mediation training announced by LSC
The Legal Services Commission has announced that 14 mediation providers have been awarded grants to assist them train more mediators. The grants total £100,000, funds which the LSC hopes will
"support a trainee mediator and the organisation through both the Family Mediation Foundation Training Programme and the Competence Assessment Portfolio, in order for them to qualify to undertake publicly funded family mediation."
The recipients of the awards are:
Oxfordshire Family Mediation
Family Mediation Worcestershire
Mediation Herefordshire
Surrey Family Mediation Service
Focus Family Mediation Ltd
West Yorkshire Family Mediation Service
South Essex Family Mediation Service
Coventry and Warwickshire Family Mediation
Laceys Mediation
Family Mediation Cardiff
Fosters Mediation
Birmingham District Family Mediation
North East London Family Mediation Service
West Wales Mediation Service


More on this and the scheme in general can be found on the LSC website.
Moj / LSC formal response on graduated fees to be published this week
http://www.familylawweek.co.uk/site.aspx?i=ed32722
Full details of the changes to graduated fees to be published
It has been announced that the formal response to the consultation on Reforming the Legal Aid Family Barrister Fee Scheme will be published later this week by the MoJ and LSC.
The announcement follows a written ministerial by Lord Bach on 12 February outlining the main thrust of the likely changes. The formal response “reiterates and details” that statement. The LSC has also stated that
"Guidance and details on the specific remuneration changes will be provided in an ‘easy-to-read’ format on our website just prior to their implementation in June.”