New Research Advisory Committee established

The newly appointed Cafcass Research Advisory Committee met for the first time in late July.

The Research Advisory Committee provides oversight on external and internal research projects giving researchers the opportunity to work with Cafcass staff, children and families, or anonymised case-related data. The committee was established in July 2020 and is a key part of our Strategic Plan 2019-23, supporting our ability to learn from and influence research.

The Committee’s primary objectives are to:

1. Approve and scrutinise research applications ensuring they are in line with the Cafcass Research Governance Framework;
2. Provide information and insight on emerging research relevant to Cafcass;
3. Help set the research agenda – working with partners in the family justice system to identify and address gaps in family justice research using Cafcass or other external data.

It will formally meet twice a year and report into the Cafcass Performance and Quality Committee.

Eight new voluntary external committee members were recruited this summer, all of whom are highly experienced in family justice research. You can read more about the new members of the committee here. As members of the committee, the Family Justice Young People’s Board will also play a key role in ensuring children remain at the heart of decisions made.