{"id":20437,"date":"2025-04-23T09:30:00","date_gmt":"2025-04-23T08:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.goodmanray.com\/?p=20437"},"modified":"2025-07-31T12:40:27","modified_gmt":"2025-07-31T11:40:27","slug":"cafcass-updates-domestic-abuse-practice-policy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.goodmanray.com\/ur\/news\/2025\/04\/cafcass-updates-domestic-abuse-practice-policy\/","title":{"rendered":"Cafcass \u06af\u06be\u0631\u06cc\u0644\u0648 \u0628\u062f\u0633\u0644\u0648\u06a9\u06cc \u06a9\u06cc \u0645\u0634\u0642 \u06a9\u06cc \u067e\u0627\u0644\u06cc\u0633\u06cc \u06a9\u0648 \u0627\u067e \u0688\u06cc\u0679 \u06a9\u0631\u062a\u0627 \u06c1\u06d2\u06d4"},"content":{"rendered":"

Domestic abuse practice policy updates<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In January 2025, the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass)<\/a> published an updated version of their domestic abuse practice policy for Cafcass Family Court advisers and Children’s Guardians (Cafcass Practitioners) to follow in protecting child and adult victims of domestic abuse when they advise the Courts. A previous version was published in October 2024 which has been withdrawn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The policy is made up of 42 points that Practitioners must consider in their assessments. The points are grouped into the following sections: domestic abuse practice policy; child safeguarding; investigation or conviction of domestic abuse offences, including sexual offences; practice direction 12J; findings of fact; and requirements derived from learning from practice and from victims of domestic abuse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is \u06a9\u06cc\u0641\u06a9\u0627\u0633<\/a>?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Cafcass, or the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service, is a public body established by \u06a9\u0631\u0645\u0646\u0644 \u062c\u0633\u0679\u0633 \u0627\u06cc\u0646\u0688 \u06a9\u0648\u0631\u0679 \u0633\u0631\u0648\u0633\u0632 \u0627\u06cc\u06a9\u0679 2000 \u06a9\u0627 \u0633\u06cc\u06a9\u0634\u0646 11<\/a> to represent the interests of children and young people in family court. Cafcass independently advises the family court about what is safe and in the best interests of children, focusing on their needs, wishes and feelings. Cafcass looks to make sure that the voices of children and young people are heard in court.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is important to note that Cafcass policies do not stand alone as a set of rules in Family Court proceedings. Rather, their policies set out what is expected as part of effective professional practice for the Practitioners themselves in preparing recommendations for family court proceedings. The advice of Cafcass in family court proceedings must be balanced by the court with the information about what is known and understood about the safety, welfare, and best interests of the child or children involved. The Court will consider the Practitioners advice carefully when making decisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How was this policy developed?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This policy comes in part as a response to the Harm Panel published in June 2020 by the Ministry of Justice<\/a>. Cafcass received criticism in the panel which reported that they were concerned that the family justice system does not effectively protect victims because of its adversarial nature. The panel also raised worries about a culture of \u2018contact at all costs,\u2019 even when a child states that they do not want to spend time with a parent. The panel also reported that Cafcass Practitioners do not have sufficient resources and are not properly trained, and that advisers and guardians recommendations to the family court do not draw on the advice of other professionals working with families.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In response to the report from the Ministry of Justice, Cafcass developed a Domestic Abuse Practice Improvement Programme. One element of this programme was a new requirement that Practitioners undertake mandatory learning and development programme, which included guidance developed with specialist domestic abuse services and families with lived experience of domestic abuse. In addition to the learning and development programme, Cafcass introduced the domestic abuse practice policy which was informed by audit, family feedback, complaints and critical legal judgements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is the purpose of the policy?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The purpose of this updated policy is…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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To set out the actions that Cafcass practitioners and managers must undertake when working with children and adults who have or may have experienced domestic abuse \u2026 The protection of children from harm or further harm is the central and fundamental purpose of this policy.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

These updates are important for children, as child victims of domestic abuse \u2013 especially babies, young children, and children with additional needs \u2013 are at a greater risk of harm as they are not able to use words to describe their experiences. As such, practitioners must be clear about the harm or risk of harm and listen to their primary caregivers. Add in about PD12J meaning children are victims if it happens in the home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Should<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\u0639\u0627\u0626\u0644\u06cc \u0642\u0627\u0646\u0648\u0646 \u0645\u06cc\u06ba "\u0679\u0631\u0648\u0645\u0627 \u0644\u06cc\u0646\u0633" \u06a9\u0648 \u0633\u0645\u062c\u06be\u0646\u0627<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Family law cases can be complex and emotionally charged, often involving deeply personal and distressing situations. For solicitors working in this field, understanding the psychological impacts on clients\u2014particularly trauma\u2014is crucial in navigating the intricacies of family law disputes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this article, \u06a9\u06cc\u0679\u0631\u06cc\u0646 \u0648\u0627\u0626\u0679<\/a> explains how adopting a trauma lens in family law practice is a powerful tool for solicitors navigating the UK Family Courts<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u0645\u0632\u06cc\u062f \u062c\u0627\u0646\u06cc\u06ba\u2026<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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What are the standout points from this policy?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are 42 points in the policy, however the main takeaways or standout points are as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n