The Family Justice Young People’s Board launches its ‘Word Busting’ project

The Family Justice Young People’s Board (FJYPB) launches its Word Busting project this week.

Throughout 2022, the FJYPB will work with all Cafcass staff to help them use language that children and their families understand - so that they can explain what they are doing, why they are doing it and what they are going to recommend to the family court.

This clear and jargon-free language will be used when speaking to or writing about children and young people. The FJYPB is encouraging Cafcass staff and other professionals working as part of the family justice system to use plain English, with simple explanations, and to provide enough information to each child so that they fully understand the role of Cafcass and the family court.

Cafcass Chief Executive Jacky Tiotto said:

“Helping children and families to understand our reasoning, making sure that they feel heard, understood, respected and valued is the very essence of our new practice framework: Together with children and families.

The Family Justice Young People’s Board Word Busting project will continue to remind us of this commitment and help us to view everything we write and say from the perspective of the children and families with whom we work. There is little more important for us as representatives of children’s wishes, feelings, hopes and experiences than to make sure they understand what we are recommending to the family court about lasting and life changing arrangements for their futures..”

Members of the Family Justice Young People’s Board said:

“We want Cafcass staff and other professionals to use respectful plain English, with simple explanations, and to provide enough information to each child so that they fully understand the role of Cafcass and what is happening, or has happened to them, during their involvement with the family courts.”

Please note that we are currently reviewing all of the content on our website to make sure that busted words do not appear.