National Standards
National Standards set out what service users,
partner agencies and practitioners in the family justice system can
expect from Cafcass. They are safe national minimum
standards.
These Standards update the 2003 Cafcass
Service Standards and Principles, and will be phased in from 1st
June 2007 - 2010.
Below is a summary of our 10 National Standards,
please click
here to read the Standards in full.
Standard 1: Safeguarding
Cafcass’ primary purpose is to safeguard the
welfare and represent the interests of each child or young person
referred to us. This means Cafcass will safeguard against harm,
safeguard a child’s right to maintain important attachments,
safeguard a child’s right to fully participate in our work with
them, and safeguard a stable and secure life for the children and
young people we work with as far as we can.
Standard 2: Early
Intervention
Cafcass can offer most to children
and young people through becoming involved in cases as soon as we
are made aware of them.
Standard 3: Case
planning
Case plans will be drawn up as early
as possible, following a case analysis. The case plan will address
how a Cafcass intervention will be applied to each case and will
set out how the case will be reviewed regularly in line with
Cafcass guidance on case planning.
Standard 4: Active
intervention and case management
Cafcass’ work will comprise an evidence-based
intervention for each child, whatever the case nature or type. Each
intervention will have a clear goal of effecting beneficial change
for children. The case analysis will identify the key issues for
the child and the case plan will set out the appropriate level and
type of intervention needed. The level of service provision on each
case will never fall below the minimum necessary, and will be the
maximum affordable, taking all the cases needing our help into
account.
Standard 5: Children’s active
involvement
Cafcass will ensure that all children are
seen, heard and understood and their active involvement in all
aspects of their case is promoted, in a way that is consistent with
and responds to each child’s wishes, competence and
understanding.
Standard 6: Quality of
Service
Cafcass aspires to excellence in every
aspect of its work and commits itself to being a learning
organisation, to applying the learning from research to service
delivery, and to continuously improving the quality of its service
to children and families.
Standard 7: Cafcass as a
public sector business
Cafcass aims to be a high-performing,
effective organisation, making the best possible use of modern
technology.
Standard 8: Customer Care
Cafcass aims to operate the highest
standards of customer care, internally and externally, at all
levels, and in all aspects of its work.
Standard 9: Partnership and multi-agency
working
Cafcass recognises the
inter-dependence of partner agencies in the family justice system
and that to be successful, collaborative working is essential.
Standard 10: Leadership, accountability and
governance
Cafcass regards strong leadership,
and good governance as important principles underpinning its vision
and in how these standards will be taken forward.