Cafcass has deactivated prioritisation in Greater Manchester

As a result of collaborative working to address local challenges across the family justice system in demand, delay, and capacity, Cafcass has agreed with partners to deactivate its prioritisation protocol across Greater Manchester. With effect from 1 December, normal allocation processes have been reinstated and children’s cases are no longer being allocated to the Allocation Hub

Introduced in 2021 amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, the prioritisation protocol is a measured response to mitigate system-wide pressures caused by a combination of the increase in demand for its services, delay in bringing proceedings to a conclusion, and challenges in maintaining capacity.

The core aims of prioritisation are to ensure the timely allocation of all public law cases and higher risk private law cases; limit the caseloads of family court advisers; protect the capacity of managers to undertake management oversight and supervision activity; and thereby maintain the quality of the service to children, families, and the courts.

Deactivation in Greater Manchester has been made possible by all partners at a local level working together to address the pressures on the family justice system.

Two operational service areas (five court areas) remain under prioritisation: most recently activated for Greater London private family law where prioritisation began in September 2023 (three court areas); and in Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk (two court areas) where prioritisation began in December 2021. Partnership plans have been developed to agree what needs to happen, how and when prioritisation can be deactivated in these areas.