Projects per year
Abstract
In England, the problem of excessive delay in court proceedings about children is long-standing, and there have been numerous initiatives over the years to tackle it. Under the Children and Families Act 2014 there is now a statutory limit of 26 weeks for care proceedings (with provision for longer where justified). If this is to be achieved, the quality of the work that local authorities undertake with children and families before proceedings are started will be more important than ever, and the courts will have to take due account of it. This paper draws on research into the formal ‘pre-proceedings process’ in England and Wales, to assess the prospects for the new approach. The research was undertaken in 2010-12, and involved a file survey, observation of pre-proceedings meetings, interviews with key participants (including social workers, lawyers and parents) and a group discussion with judges. The paper considers the implications of the new approach for relationships between the courts and local authorities, in particular how pre-proceedings work should be conducted. The danger is that pre-court practice may become less about family support, more about evidence and timescales, less about prevention of proceedings and more about preparation for court.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 355-371 |
Number of pages | 17 |
Journal | British Journal of Social Work |
Volume | 46 |
Issue number | 2 |
Early online date | 9 Dec 2014 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 10 Mar 2016 |
Keywords
- Care proceedings
- social work and law
- children and families
- child safeguarding
- prevention
Profiles
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Jonathan Dickens
- School of Social Work - Emeritus Professor
- Centre for Research on Children and Families - Member
- Child Protection & Family Support - Member
Person: Honorary, Research Group Member, Research Centre Member
Projects
- 1 Finished
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Families on the edge of care proceedings: the operation and impact of pre-proceedings processes in children's social care.
Dickens, J. & Masson, J.
Economic and Social Research Council
1/04/10 → 30/06/12
Project: Research