Mary Ryan and Sally Ann Jenkins Cardiff 12 September 2018 ©Family Rights Group

“We are facing a crisis and, truth be told, we have no very clear strategy for meting the crisis. What is to be done?” Sir James Munby, 2016 The Care Crisis Review: A “collation of the willing” Examine the reasons for the rise in care proceedings and number of children in care in England & Wales Take account of the current national economic, financial, legal and policy context that impacts on families and on local authority & court practice Identify solutions at practice, organisational and system level to tackle the crisis England and Wales.

How the review was conducted Stakeholder Advisory Group Listening exercise involving over 2,000 people across England and Wales Roundtable discussions on contributory factors Surveys Discussion events Rapid Academic Review of evidence

Suite of Care Crisis Review Reports

Factors contributing to national increases Aim: Identify and synthesise the evidence. Informed by: National administrative datasets for England & Wales Analysis of research and administrative data undertaken by Nuffield seminar participants A scoping exercise for the FJO Reports from recent relevant inquiries Recent reviews of research Care Crisis Review (CCR) survey results Written evidence submitted to the Review Discussions at CCR consultation events.

Factors contributing to national increases Beneath national statistics lie marked regional and local variations Many overlapping contributory factors and little evidence about relative impact of individual factors Socio economic Legal and policy frameworks Professional practice Child and family circumstances Tensions in the system

Key messages across the Review Blame, shame, fear & frustration A complex picture: no single solution Consensus regarding: - Relationship building being at heart of good practice - The wider family and community being an untapped resources for some children. The challenge: to create conditions that allow good relationships to flourish.

Messages from Research DoH “The most important condition for success was found always to be the quality of the relationship between the child’s family and the responsible professional” Messages from Research DoH

20 Options for Change Good systems & practice Shared vision & - ethos Training and development Inspection Approaches that enable families to understand professionals’ concerns & draw upon their strengths e.g. FGCs Family & friends care: - Strengthen statutory guidance - LAs to renew focus on policy - Paid leave & post proceedings support. Early advice & access to advocacy; MoJ impact analysis. Pre-proceedings good practice Section 76 voluntary accommodation – guidance and access to free, independent legal advice. Shared vision & - ethos Collaboration - Statutory guidance

20 Options for Change Moving away from undue focus on process and KPIs in Family Justice System Draw on lessons from problem solving court Dedicated post removal support Reunification: greater use of guidance & tools National & local family justice boards: review role, purpose & emphasis Families as a resource in service design and development Resources (£ shortfall) & research matter Impact assessment of govt. policies

Do the findings from the Review resonate with your own experience? Do any of the findings from the Review come as a surprise? Which of the ‘Options for change’ particularly capture your attention/ interest and why?

https://www.frg.org.uk/involving-families/reforming-law-and-practice/care-crisis-review ©Family Rights Group