Recent News
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Potential Improvements to Child Maintenance Services Debated in Westminster Hall
On Tuesday 17 January a Westminster Hall Debate was held on potential improvements to Child Maintenance Services (‘CMS’) (see here). There were two Private Members Bills selected in the 2022-23 Private Members Bill ballot, which would change legislation around the...
Children looked after by local authorities rise
The number of children looked after by the local authorities in England has risen to 82,170 in 2022. This is up 2% from the previous year and continuing the rise seen in recent years. The figures are included in a statistical release from the Department for Education....
Latests figures released regarding children in need
The latest figures have been published by the Department for Education on children referred to and assessed by children's social services for the year ending 31 March 2022. The figures state there are 404,310 children in need in England. This is the highest number...
Minimum Age for Marriage Raised
The Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Act 2022 will raise the age of marriage and civil partnership in England and Wales to eighteen years old on 27 February 2023. This removes the old right for sixteen- and seventeen-year-olds to marry or enter a civil...
Ofsted announces new inspection focus on early help for children and families
Ofsted has announced that there will now be a new focus of its multi- agency inspections, which will be early help given to children and families to reduce risks and meet their needs. The multi-agency inspections, also known as joint targeted area inspections...
Children’s Commissioner for England releases preliminary findings of The Family Review at Policy Exchange
On 1st September 2022 the Children's Commissioner launched the Independent Family Review at Policy Exchange. As part of the launch, the Commissioner revealed findings such as - • There are 8.2 million families with children in the UK • 63% of those families...
Child Maintenance Service Statistics published up to March 2022
Child Maintenance Service Statistics published up to March 2022 The Statistics for the usage of the Child Maintenance Service in the last quarter has been published by The Department for Work and Pensions. 18% of separated families used The Child Maintenance System to...
Domestic Abusers barred from cross-examining victims in family and civil courts
From July 21st victims of domestic abuse will no longer be cross – examined by their alleged attackers in family and civil courts under measures coming into force on that day. However, the ban will only apply to cases that there is specified evidence of domestic abuse...
Women’s Aid Publishes report regarding the implementation of Harm Panel Recommendations
In 2020 the ‘Harm Panel’ appointed by the Ministry of justice, published a report on the family justice system. The panel reported that the family court system was failing and in private law, proceedings were creating further harm and trauma to children. The...