Geldards Family team champion ‘the voice of the child’ with CAFCASS
Image sourced from Cafcass (Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service)
Claire Dean and Alexandra Wood, members of Geldards’ Family team, were pleased to attend the recent 10th annual Family Justice Young People’s Board (FJYPB) conference at Park Plaza in London on 28th July.
The FJYPB is made up of over 79 children and young people across England and Wales, ranging in ages from primary school age to university age. These children have had direct experience of the family justice system or have an interest in children’s rights in the family courts.
The aim of the Family Justice Young People’s Board is to deliver improvements to the family justice system and to ensure children who are involved in family courts are given a voice without delay. The impact on children’s mental health arising from the failings in the system was a focus at the conference, as well as discussions about the ability for children to be listened to regarding abuse at an early stage.
The event was well attended by a range of professional services including the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS) for both England and Wales, the Department of Education and a wide range of institutions who work towards to support the welfare of children and families.
As a team, Geldards Family Team remain committed to finding the best route for their clients to resolve disputes regarding children whether that be through the court system or using alternative forms of dispute resolution. Where possible, the team strive to ensure the child’s voice is heard and assess the impact of delays on the children involved in their cases.
Claire Dean, a partner and head of the children team, is a member of the Local Family Justice Board and a member of the Resolution committee on domestic abuse, working with local judges and other professionals to improve the way children matters are dealt with. Alexandra Wood works closely with Claire on many of her children cases.
If you would like to find out more about our Family team can help, please get in touch with the team below.