News & Resources

Nuffield Family Justice Observatory - latest research on contact for children in care

six key messages about contact for children in care or adopted

The Nuffield Family Justice Observatory sets out six key messages about contact for children in care or adopted which come from the latest research. Click here to read the full report. September 2020 Read more

Court of Appeal decision about how to approach parents having contact with children during the COVID-19 pandemic

The Court of Appeal handed down its decision in Re D-S (Children) which explains how we should approach decisions around contact between parents and children who are subject to interim care orders.  To read full judgment Re D-S (Contact with... Read more

Community Care Article - Black and ethnic minority social workers disproportionately subject to fitness to practise investigations

Black and ethnic minority social workers disproportionately subject to fitness to practise investigations Social Work England promises action as figures show disproportionately low number of ethnic minority panel members making decisions about... Read more

Multi-agency statutory guidance on female genital mutilation

This statutory guidance is being issued by the Government under section 5C(1) of the Female Genital Mutilation Act 20031 and extends to England and Wales only. Section 5C(1) states   Click here to download the guidance Read more

Nagalro Press Release and Briefing Paper regarding reform of the Child Welfare Reporter Role in Scotland

NAGALRO URGES REFORM OF THE CHILD WELFARE REPORTER ROLE 25 August 2020 - Latest News 1) The amendment to the Children (Scotland) Act re Child Welfare Reports only being authored by registered Social Workers was formally withdrawn by the... Read more

Nagalro Anti Racist Statement

There can be no conceivable justification for the killing, by slow asphyxia, of George Floyd, who was handcuffed at the time of his death.  The protests across the world... Read more

MoJ report on Assessing Risk of Harm to Children and Parents in Private Law Children Cases

The Ministry of Justice has today published the Final Report on “Assessing Risk of Harm to Children and Parents in Private Law Children Cases”, by the panel of experts undertaking the work. In May 2019 the Ministry of Justice convened a panel of... Read more

Charlie Taylor's review of pain-inducing restraint

The Ministry of Justice published on 18 June a review of the use of pain-inducing restraint authorised for use on children as young as 10 during their journeys to and from custodial institutions, and within child prisons. The review, led by the... Read more

The Family Court and Covid-19 - The Road Ahead

From the Office of the the President of the Family courts. This document seeks to establish a broad framework for the Family Court by attempting to chart the road ahead over the next six months or... Read more

FLBA Video Conferencing Guide CVP

The FLBA have produced this guide for advocates using the new Cloud Video Platform (‘CVP’) for video hearings. This information will help those who are asked to give evidence at a remote hearing using this particular platform.  CVP is an online... Read more

Children's Commissioner report: 'We're all in this together'

Local area profiles of child vulnerability

April 2020 The Children’s Commissioner’s local area profiles of child vulnerability provide a way for councils to understand which groups of children are likely to be at risk under lockdown, and how many children in their area fall into those... Read more

Nagalro seeks guidance specifically for ISWs on how to work safely during the pandemic

On 3 April 2020 Nagalro wrote to the President of the Family Division, Sir Andrew McFarlane, asking for guidance specifically for Independent Social Workers on how to balance honouring their obligations to the courts and work within restrictions to... Read more

Re P (A child: Remote Hearing) Approved Judgment

A judgment from the President on the issue of when there should and should not be video hearings.  Click here to download document. Read more

Nagalro response to the President’s Two-week rapid consultation on remote hearings in the Family Court

The President of the Family Division, Sir Andrew McFarlane announced the commencement of a 2 week rapid consultation on the use of remote hearings in the family justice system, starting on 14th April. This research project was undertaken by the... Read more

Covid-19: Update from Nagalro

Check government guidance regularly

Covid-19 The Covid-19 outbreak imposes very significant challenges for all of us.  Nagalro members including ISWs, Children’s Guardians and Family Court Advisers carry out extremely important work often under challenging circumstances.  However,... Read more

Private Law Family Disputes: The time for change; The need for change; The case for change

This is the second report of the President’s Private Law Working Group. It makes radical proposals for root and branch reform of the way in which private law cases are dealt with and calls for more attention to be paid to the voice of the child (see... Read more

Looked after Children in independent or semi-independent placements

February 2020

DoE article 'Looked after children in independent or semi-independent placements. Download article here. Read more

Pass the Parcel - Children posted around the care system

Children's Commissioner article 'Pass the Parcel - Children posted around the care system' Download article here. Read more

Independent assurance review of the effectiveness of multi-agency responses to child sexual exploitation in Greater Manchester

Part One: An assurance review of Operation Augusta

Independent assurance review of the effectiveness of multi-agency responses to child sexual exploitation in Greater Manchester Part One:  An assurance review of Operation Augusta Malcolm Newsam CBE and Gary Ridgway December 2019 Download... Read more

From Active Participants to Passive Auditors: Nagalro's concerns about the diminishing role of the Children's Guardian

Introduction Applications to remove or replace the children’s guardian are rare enough.  A successful application, rarer still.  The decision of Mrs Justice Theis, in LR v A Local Authority & Others [2019] EWFC 49 (Fam), in which the court... Read more