Whither Court Welfare- Past,Present Or Future?

Abstract

The Family Court Welfare Service is on the verge of one of the most fundamental changes in its history. Alison Jones, Senior Family Court Welfare Officer in Inner London, traces the development of the Service over the last twenty years, arguing that notwithstanding the impact of external factors such as the Children Act, National Standards and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), practitioners have had a significant influence in shaping that change. Consequently, she urges that the experience of, and continuing dynamic debate amongst, family court welfare practitioners ought to be an integral part of the process of planning a quality service for the future.