FAMILY PERFORMANCE IN GREATER MANCHESTER Shirley Brown LFJB

FAMILY PERFORMANCE IN GREATER MANCHESTER Shirley Brown LFJB Chair

Progress since last conference • LFJB has a detailed action plan to improve performance • Public law and private law sub groups reestablished to focus on improvements • Training committee arranged several lunchtime training sessions

Oldest Case March 2015 The child’s age at issue stage: 2 months

Oldest Case Child’s age at final hearing: 3 years, 1 month

Oldest Case as at August The child’s age at issue stage: 10 months

Oldest Case Child’s age at final hearing: 2 years, 6 months

PUBLIC LAW PERFORMANCE

Headline Figures The average length of care and supervision cases Feb 2015 – 35. 5 weeks July 2015 – 35. 1 weeks % of care & supervision cases that achieve a final outcome for the child within 26 weeks Feb 2015 – 27% July 2015 - 42%

Headline Figures Number of outstanding cases 0 -26 weeks Over 26 weeks Feb 2015 328 (69%) 144 (31%) Jul 2015 102 (24%) 331 (76%)

Headline Figures Private Law – average time from application to first full order for s 8 cases: Feb 2015 – 16. 6 weeks Jul 2015 - 15. 9 weeks

The Facts: Allocation to Track Number of Care or Supervision cases on standard track at end of February 338, end of August 378 Number of Care or Supervision cases on currently on non standard track at end of February 107, end of August 56 Number of cases currently not meeting the timetable end of February 98, end of August 85

Adjournments & expert reports The number of cases adjourned remains high at 200 (FYTD) Number of expert reports requested has remained high. LFJB have an action plan to establish the root cause of the issues and to implement improvements

Progress • Consideration of reallocating cases to other Judges/Magistrates if the allocated Judge/Magistrate has insufficient time within their list to hear the case within 26 weeks • Creation of a family progression team to take a proactive approach to how work is dealt with • Training and Development Committee established • Monthly data cleansing of cases • Close management of cases at risk of not meeting the timetable

Next Steps • Use of Pre-proceedings protocol • Use of SWET template • Identify reasons for high usage of expert reports and take steps to improve. • Review listing protocols and administrative systems • Focus on reducing adjournment rate