Recommendation 6

‘Pathfinder’ pilots present an opportunity to improve private law performance, but MoJ has not yet made necessary preparations to roll the pilot out nationally. The MoJ’s ‘Pathfinder’ pilot is now rolled out across six family court areas, with plans for another four areas. Initial evaluations suggest the new model improves experiences for victims of domestic abuse, and reduces average case durations. The new model prioritises earlier collection of information and reduces the number of court hearings, shifting costs away from courts towards local authorities and Cafcass. For example, Cafcass’s involvement in private law cases is expected to increase from around 30% of cases to 80% under the Pathfinder model, requiring around 200 more family court advisers. Wider roll out may therefore depend on reallocation of funding to support the necessary investment in Cafcass and local authority social work capacity. Many stakeholders consider that the new model for private law cases is a positive step. However, despite the wide support and positive evaluations, progress towards the new model is slow. MoJ has no timetable for wider adoption, nor an assessment of what funding would be required. 6 recommendation MoJ should, in conjunction with the DfE, within the next 12 months publish a plan and timeline for the wider roll out of pathfinder, including an assessment of how the model will affect spending and how it intends to reallocate funding to Cafcass and local authorities as necessary. 7 1 Reducing delays and improving outcomes for children Introduction