House of Commons - Committee on the Lord Chancellor's Department - Third Report

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House of Commons

Session 2002-03
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Committee on the Lord Chancellor's Department Committee Publications

Committee on the Lord Chancellor's Department - Third Report

Here you can browse the report together with the Proceedings of the Committee. The published report was ordered by the House of Commons to be printed 15 July 2003.

CONTENTS

Terms of Reference

Report
Summary
1  Introduction
Our inquiry
Acknowledging the devotion of CAFCASS practitioners
Submissions from non-resident parents and those concerned about domestic violence
2  The role of CAFCASS
Introduction to CAFCASS's role
Private law proceedings
Public law proceedings
Other proceedings
CAFCASS Legal Services and Special Casework
Wider responsibilities
Role of MCSI
3  The establishment of CAFCASS
Aim of the new service
Problems with the establishment of the service
Timetable
Work of the Project Team
Effect of the short timetable
Appointment of the Board and senior management team
Funding
Establishment of the service: conclusion
4  The early days
Dispute with self-employed guardians
Disruption in the senior management team
Role of the Lord Chancellor's Department
Intervention by LCD officials
Suspicions of cost-cutting
Tandem representation
Work of the Project Team
Review by the National Audit Office
5  Current situation
Failures in service provision
Reasons for delay
CAFCASS Legal
Lowering of standards for recruitment
Training
Consequences of the lack of training
Convergence
Performance management and appraisal
Information Technology
Support services
Partnership funding
Effect of LCD's PSA targets
Relations with the Legal Services Commission
Relations with other organisations
Research and improving practice
6  Corporate governance
Management and organisational culture
Management
Internal communications and relations with front-line staff
The "mixed economy"
Relationship between LCD and CAFCASS
The CAFCASS Board
7  The way forward
Failures in service provision
CAFCASS Legal
Dealing with the backlog
Recruitment and workforce planning
Attracting back experienced guardians
Longer-term recruitment
Standard of work done by new recruits
Training and professional development
Induction training
Convergence
Performance management
Progress in the provision of training
Information Technology
Support services
Need to indicate role in provision of support services
Funding for support services
Cooperation with other bodies
Research and improving practice
Management and organisational culture
The Framework Document and CAFCASS's relationship with government
The CAFCASS Board
Inspection regime
Continued Parliamentary scrutiny of CAFCASS's work

Conclusions and recommendations

Formal minutes
Witnesses
List of written evidence
Reports from the Committee on the Lord Chancellor's Department

HC 614-II - Oral and Written Evidence
Oral Evidence
Tuesday 8 April 2003
Tuesday 29 April 2003
Tuesday 6 May 2003
Thursday 22 May 2003
Written Evidence

© Parliamentary copyright 2003
Prepared 23 July 2003