"Making Contact Work" - Cafcass' response to Government
proposals
19 March 2004
Cafcass welcomes the Government’s response to
“Making Contact Work” published today. This report sets
out a range of proposals to improve outcomes for children whose
parents are separating or divorcing.
Commenting on the response, Jonathan Tross,
Chief Executive, Cafcass said:
“Cafcass knows children benefit from
relationships with both parents after family breakdown, where it is
safe. We also believe it is usually best for children and parents
if matters can be resolved without recourse to the courts.
That is why our corporate plan 2003-06 set out Cafcass’ aim to test
more active engagement with families to establish agreements with a
realistic prospect of success. As the report indicates, Cafcass is
‘well placed to undertake this work’, so we are actively involved
in initiatives such as the Family Resolutions Pilot Project.”
Other proposals in the Government’s response focus on:
Increasing the number of supervised contact
centres to promote the safety of children where there are concerns
about risk and implementing national standards of service provision
and good practice in child contact centres.
Providing earlier information to judges about
alleged history of domestic violence in contact and residence order
applications.
Improving the availability of information to
children and families on contact and residence issues.
The original ‘Making Contact Report’
recommended the development of post order support for families
including extending the use of family assistance orders and Cafcass
will be evaluating current work to assess the role and potential of
this type of assistance.