Senior management is top heavy resulting in micromanagement of frontline staff. There is a disconnect between the reality for staff on the ground and the aspirations of senior management, most of whom have never set foot in court. The level of bureaucracy and box ticking has increased in recent years. It’s not uncommon for a case to be audited 3 times in a short space of time, by 3 different managers who will all pick on different things, depending on what is “flavour of the month” at the time. Unsurprisingly, staff are now leaving in droves. Some areas are experiencing unprecedented levels of staff turnover which make Local Authorities appear stable in comparison. The organisation has lost sight of why Cafcass was created in the first place, and its role and purpose in the family justice system. Attending a national Cafcass training event is like The Emperor’s New Clothes. It’s a desperately sad situation as the actual role- being the child’s voice in court- is an important one.
