We’re pleased to share that CAFCASS has recently published a new Domestic Abuse Practice Policy, which outlines enhanced guidelines for addressing Domestic Abuse in family court proceedings. This policy aims to improve how domestic abuse cases are managed and ensure the safety and well-being of children and families involved.

The new policy sets clear practice requirements for identifying, assessing, and responding to domestic abuse cases, making sure that the voices and experiences of survivors are at the forefront. This is an important step forward in ensuring better protection and outcomes for victims, particularly women and children, who are often the most affected.

This update is especially significant for organisations like Coventry Haven Women’s Aid, as it reinforces a commitment to safeguarding those experiencing abuse and provides a more robust framework for professionals working with vulnerable families.

For more information on this policy, you can read the report here

“On the 9th October 2024, Cafcass has published a new Domestic Abuse Practice Policy. The policy sets out the practice requirements that Cafcass Family Court Advisers (FCAs) and Children’s Guardians must follow in protecting child and adult victims of domestic abuse when they advise the courts about the welfare of the child and the child’s best interests.

In June 2020, the Harm Panel published a report setting out concerns which included that the family justice system does not effectively protect victims of domestic abuse because it is adversarial, that key agencies work in silos and that a ‘contact at all costs’ culture predominates. It reported that FCAs and Children’s Guardians are not sufficiently resourced or trained, that they prioritise children spending time with a parent, even when a child says they don’t want to. The report also stated that FCA recommendations to the family court do not draw on the advice of other professionals working with families.”