Recommendations to achieve best practice in the child protection and family justice systems: Supervision orders
Resolution’s response to the Public Law Working Group
Resolution’s 6,500 members are family lawyers and other family justice professionals, committed to a non-adversarial approach to family law and the resolution of family disputes. Resolution members abide by a Code of Practice which emphasises a constructive and collaborative approach to family problems and encourages solutions that take into account the needs of the whole family and the best interests of any children in particular.
We also campaign for better laws and better support and facilities for families and children undergoing family change.
Resolution is grateful for all the work undertaken by the supervision order sub-group.
Public children practitioner members of Resolution’s Children and Legal Aid Committees, and Family Law Reform Group have considered the consultation response dated 29 November 2022 prepared by the Association of Lawyers for Children. Resolution fully supports and endorses this response to the consultation questions.
In relation to Question 1 ‘Should supervision orders be retained as a public law order?’, we wish to emphasise our strong view that yes, there is an absolute need to retain supervision orders as part of child protection when in court proceedings. Our members consider that they fulfil a vital function when intervention is required to safeguard children but that intervention should fall short of separation, albeit that we agree that there is a need for reform so that supervision orders are more robust and effective.
Resolution, December 2022