Our work

Background

The Family Justice Council (FJC) was established in 2004 with the aim of stimulating better and quicker outcomes for families and in the family court service. The Council sits between government and the courts of the family justice system. It speaks with both the experience of its members, all eminent in their fields, and an understanding of the realities of the system on the ground as perceived by its 39 Local Family Justice Councils.

The national Council of 30 members meets quarterly and includes expertise from the legal (judges, barristers, solicitors), medical (a paediatrician and a child psychiatrist) and social care (Cafcass representation and a Director of Children's services) worlds.

Terms of Reference of the Family Justice Council

The Council's key roles are to:

Promote an inter-disciplinary approach to family justice
monitor how effectively the system delivers the service the Government and the public need and,
advise on reforms necessary for continuous improvement

It is specifically charged with:

Promoting improved inter-disciplinary working across the family justice system through discussion and co-ordination between all agencies
identifying and disseminating best practice throughout the family justice system by facilitating an exchange of information between local family justice councils and the national Council, and by identifying priorities for, and encouraging the conduct of, research
providing guidance and direction to achieve consistency of practice throughout the family justice system and submitting proposals for new practice directions where appropriate, and
providing advice and making recommendations to government on changes to legislation, practice and procedure, which will improve the workings of the family justice system.

Activities

A Business Plan is agreed with Ministers at the Ministy of Justice for each year's activities.
The Family Justice Council meets four times a year. It is supported by a dedicated secretariat based in the Royal Courts of Justice. The Family Justice Council has authority to appoint sub-committees or working groups to do detailed work where needed.
It publishes a yearly report.

Business Plan

Business Plan for 2009-10

Annual reports

Factsheets

Meetings with Stakeholders

Family Justice Coucil Concurrent Planning Seminar [8 November 2007]
Family Justice Council Event - Parents Forum [9 October 2007]

Speeches, Reports, Press Notices and Consultation Papers

Outcome of the Consultation Paper - G.Manchester Family Proceedings Courts: A proposal that all Public Law Children Act 1989 work in Greater Manchester be heard in theManchester Civil Justice Centre. [The Consultation Paper commenced on 15th December 2008 and closed on 9th July 2009]
A proposal that all public law children Act 1989 work in Greater Manchester be heard at Manchester Civil Justice Centre - Consultation paper [Published on 15 December 2008. consultation ends on 20 March 2009]
Outcomes of applications to court for contact orders after parental separation or divorce [Published on 25 September 2008]
Linked care and Placement Order Proceedings - updated guidance [7 July 2008]
'Everybody's Business' - How applications for contact orders by consent should be approached by the court in cases involving domestic violence. Summary of the Family Justice Council's Report and Recommendations to the President of the Family Division [Article by Jane Craig. February 2007]

Our responses to consultation papers

Response of the FJC to the Legal Aid Funding Reform Consultation - reponses to questionnaire
Response of the FJC to the Legal Aid Funding Reform Consultation - Questionnaire [The repsonse to the questions are in the document above]
Response of the Family Justice Council to the DCSF on Promoting the health and wellbeing of looked after children - Revised Statutory Guidance [3 August 2009]
Response of the Family Justice Council to the Consultation on Family Legal Aid funding from 2010 [April 2009]
Civil Bid Rounds 2010 contracts LSC Consultation [January 2009]
Response of the FJC to the Consultation on the Contents of a New Destination of Appeals Order [December 2008]
Civil Court Fees 2008
Response of the Family Justice Council to the Proposed LSC Guidance Changes [October 2008]
Response of the Family Justice Council to the Consultation on the CPS Policy for Prosecuting cases of Domestic Violence [October 2008]
Response of the Family Justice Council to the Family Barrister Fee Scheme Consultation paper CP12/08 [September 2008]
Response of the Family Justice Council to the Forced Marriage Statutory Guidance Consultation paper [July 2008]
Response of the Family Justice Coucil to the HMCS Consultation on the Allocation and Transfer of Proceedings Order 2008 and Practice Direction - Allocation and Transfer [June2008]
Response of the Family Justice Council to the Consultation paper 'Marriage to Partners from Overseas' [March2008]
Response of the Family Justice Council to the Consultation Paper on the Public Law Family Fees [March 2008]

Papers drafted by our Committees

Baby P - produced by the Children in Safeguarding Committee. December 2008
Mapping Exercise on Inter-disciplinary Training - produced by the Education and Training committee
Enhancing the Participation of Children and Young People in Famiy Proceedings: Starting the Debate - produced by the Voice of the Child Committee March 2008
Family Mediation - the context
Mapping an inclusive curriculum for CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT for family justice professionals - Produced by the Education and Training Sub-Committee January 2005