Interim report on the Family Justice Review to be released in April

Children's minister Tim Loughton has announced that an interim report on the Family Justice Review will be released alongside the Munro review in April.

The Family Justice Review, chaired by David Norgrove (pictured), is examining the effectiveness of the family justice system and the outcomes it delivers, and will make recommendations for reform. It's also looking at the best ways for courts to work with other agencies supporting children involved in the care system and how more contact rights can be provided for non-resident parents and grandparents.

Professor Eileen Munro's review looks at how to remove the barriers and bureaucracy which prevent social workers spending valuable time with vulnerable children.

The minister said that there are some clear overlaps in the work of both reviews and the two chairs have been talking together and making representations to each other's work.

Speaking at the National Children and Adult Services Conference in Manchester yesterday, Mr Loughton said: "Although David Norgrove's review of the family justice system is far more complex he will reveal an interim report in April to go alongside the Munro findings."

He added that he expected the Family Justice Review to come up with "some quite radical solutions".