Supplementary evidence from Jonathan Ewen,
Director, Barnardo's (FC 59)
WORK OF THE FAMILY COURTS
I am writing to thank you for the opportunity to
give evidence to the Committee on 25 January, and to follow up
on some issues from the session.
Elfyn Llwyd MP asked for more details about the sample
of 27 cases in one of Barnardo's Family Group Conferencing Services
in the North West. Care proceedings were being considered in all
of these cases, but none of the children ended up going into care.
Mr Llwyd asked specifically about which court centre or areas
these cases fell under (Q94).
THE LIVERPOOL
FAMILY GROUP
CONFERENCING SERVICE
COVERS ONLY
THE COURT
AREA OF
THE CITY
OF LIVERPOOL
I would also like to take this opportunity to note
the cost savings of such a service, which cost £88,000 to
run but saved the local authority approximately ten times that
amount in care fees. Despite being regarded as a successful and
cost effective service by the local authority, last year Liverpool
announced it would no longer be able to continue funding non statutory
work. The service has been forced to make significant cut backs.
Despite this, Barnardo's Liverpool Family Group Conferencing Service
still prevented 19 "at-risk" children from entering
care in the last nine months of 2010.
Barnardo's would be delighted to host a visit for
members of the Committee to any of our services to explore the
issues raised during the session in further detail. Please get
in touch if you would like to arrange a visit; or if you have
any further queries.
February 2011
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