Better resources, greater consistency and a more child-centred approach, say the findings of a committee report into the operation of CAFCASS Cymru
The National Assembly’s Health, Wellbeing and Local Government Committee conducted the inquiry into the operation of the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service in Wales (CAFCASS Cymru), which looks after the interests of children involved in family proceedings in Wales.
The cross-party group of AMs found that although significant progress has been made since the service was devolved to the Welsh government in 2005, this progress needs to continue with “added urgency”.
The committee was concerned that the experience of Welsh children in family court proceedings is not as positive and child-centred as it should be, because the wishes and feelings of children are not always firmly established and relayed in case proceedings.
The committee attributed this shortcoming to the tension between the ‘welfare’ based environment in which CAFCASS is required to work and the more ‘rights based’ approach adopted in Wales, something it recommended Welsh government Ministers needed to address.
“We want to pay tribute to the many CAFCASS Cymru practitioners who work hard and professionally to help resolve some of the most difficult and intractable cases that come before the family courts.” said Chair of the committee Darren Millar AM.
“However, as a matter of urgency, we believe that CAFCASS needs to make significant further progress. This report demonstrates some key areas for improvement which, once implemented, will enable it to fulfil its key duty - to safeguard and promote the welfare of children in Wales."
The committee were also concerned about the increasing amount of work and responsibility undertaken by volunteers in supported Child Contact Centres, and the “ad-hoc” way in which such centres are funded across Wales.
To combat this, it recommended that the Welsh government seek critical discussions with the UK government on its financial contribution to the work of CAFCASS in Wales, to ensure that it is sufficiently well resourced.
Click here to view the report.