Recent research into the experience of children and young people who go through private family court proceedings has developed some recommendations to improve the process.
Researchers recommend that children should:
- Be sent information about who they will meet and what they will be asked before the meeting
- Have things explained in different ways so that they can understand what is happening
- Be the ones to choose where, where and how to share their views
- Be offered other ways of having their say that they feel comfortable with
The summary of their feedback was as follows:
- Children’s initial nerves were quickly dispelled, and most felt relieved to talk about what they wanted to happen.
- Most children said they felt listened to and that they could be open and honest.
- It was mainly the parents rather than the children who decided when, where and how they talked with CAFCASS. For some children, the place they met made them feel uncomfortable.
- The meeting was shorter than expected for some children, and they didn’t get asked as many questions as expected.
- Quite a few, especially older teenagers, felt confused during and after the meeting.
- All the children found out what happened at court from their parents, and a couple would have preferred to be told by someone outside the family, like CAFCASS or the judge.
- Children did not know they could write a letter to the judge or meet them. One had been invited to court but chose not to because it felt too scary.
- Children relied on and trusted their workers to be their voice in court, although they didn’t feel understood and worried about what might happen next.