Improving family court services for children

MoJ, DfE, HMCTS and Cafcass, working through the FJB, should develop and publish an overall strategy for family justice improvements, including: ? clear and measurable objectives for better serving children and families and taxpayers;

Ref Page 11, Recommendation a1 · Implemented 05/2026

MoJ, DfE, HMCTS and Cafcass, working through the FJB, should agree a data and evidence strategy to identify data gaps from a family justice whole system perspective and consider how it will address these. This should include examining data in existing systems as well as insights from initiatives to better link systems, including methods for tracking a child through the process. The strategy should include how departments will collect better data on: ? causes of delays and inefficiencies in the family justice system;

Ref Page 11, Recommendation b1 · Implemented 05/2026

HMCTS, MoJ and DfE should review available support for families through court proceedings and assess opportunities for better support to litigants in person and families more widely, including how to improve guidance for family court applicants by learning from the guidance available for other court applications and public services

Ref Page 11, Recommendation c · Implemented 07/2026

Building on existing work with LFJBs, MoJ, DfE, HMCTS and Cafcass should identify how learning about what works (both locally and nationally) can be more systematically captured and applied more broadly.

Ref Page 11, Recommendation d · Implemented 05/2026

MoJ, DfE, HMCTS and Cafcass, working through the FJB, should develop and publish an overall strategy for family justice improvements, including: ? a system-wide assessment of key issues affecting performance;

Ref Page 11, Recommendation a2 · Implemented 05/2026

MoJ, DfE, HMCTS and Cafcass, working through the FJB, should develop and publish an overall strategy for family justice improvements, including: ? a review of ongoing and future initiatives to ensure work is joined up and addresses key performance issues, including the role of local family justice boards; and

Ref Page 11, Recommendation a3 · Implemented 05/2026

MoJ, DfE, HMCTS and Cafcass, working through the FJB, should agree a data and evidence strategy to identify data gaps from a family justice whole system perspective and consider how it will address these. This should include examining data in existing systems as well as insights from initiatives to better link systems, including methods for tracking a child through the process. The strategy should include how departments will collect better data on: ? differential outcomes for user groups; and

Ref Page 11, Recommendation b2 · Implemented 05/2026

MoJ, DfE, HMCTS and Cafcass, working through the FJB, should agree a data and evidence strategy to identify data gaps from a family justice whole system perspective and consider how it will address these. This should include examining data in existing systems as well as insights from initiatives to better link systems, including methods for tracking a child through the process. The strategy should include how departments will collect better data on: ? the ?whole system? costs of family justice.

Ref Page 11, Recommendation b3 · Implemented 05/2026

MoJ, DfE, HMCTS and Cafcass, working through the FJB, should develop and publish an overall strategy for family justice improvements, including: ? a set of measurable performance indicators that cover all elements important to achieving good outcomes, including quality and efficiency as well as timeliness.

Ref Page 11, Recommendation a4 · Implemented 05/2026