Practitioners' Views of a Unified Court Welfare Service
| Author | Catrina Flynn |
| Published date | 01 June 1999 |
| Date | 01 June 1999 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/026455059904600217 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
philosophies and roles was strongly
staff. Other main findings:
apparent. The flexibility which is
.
It was anticipated that it would be
demanded if co-operative working is to
more problematic for court welfare
become a reality would require the
officers to become guardians than vice
Probation Service to be more pro-active
versa. Doubts were also expressed about
in presenting its perspective on the
the willingness of guardians to take on
support needs of clients with dual
court welfare work.
diagnosis.
.
When asked about changes to the
Sheila Gray
role and practice of court welfare, a
Probation Officer
strong theme was that the needs of
Inner London
children and families cannot always be
met adequately under current
arrangements. There was a perception
Practitioners’ Views
that necessary changes will only occur if
the link with the Probation Service is
of a Unified Court
severed.
Welfare Service
.
The general view was that the Court
should have discretion to order legal
The overall aim of this research was to
representation for some children in
inform the policy-making process from
private law proceedings.
initial consultation, through legislation to
.
The office base and formal
training programmers for the planned new
structures for professional advice and
family courts service. The objectives
support were the most commonly cited
were to draw on the unique perspectives
benefits of working within the court
of practitioners who had experience of
welfare structure. Guardians identified
both guardian ad litem and court welfare
professional autonomy, peer group
work. Interviews were conducted with 38
support and opportunities for
informants from services all over the
consultation as key enabling elements.
country. The Government’s proposal for
.
Most practitioners in both services
an integrated service received qualified
were critical of
approval, although there
quality assurance
was a
widespread perception that guardians and
systems. All the...
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