Use of research evidence in the Family Justice System

Decisions made by courts as part of the Family Justice System can have a profound influence on the lives of families and children. However, there is relatively limited research capacity to address fundamental questions in the field of family justice.

The Family Justice Review in 2011 highlighted a need for:

• improved dissemination of up-to-date research and analysis on the needs, views and development of children;
• a system-wide approach to research and evaluation; and
• improved mechanisms for synthesising and vetting the quality of research in ways that are accessible and useful for practitioners, be they judges, legal representatives, social workers, Cafcass officers, or members of local family justice boards.

With this in mind, the Nuffield Foundation intends to commission a scoping project to map the requirements for a solution which might improve the vetting, synthesis, dissemination, and translation into practice of research evidence and data relevant to family justice issues.

Following a round-table discussion in 2014, the Foundation is hosting an event in London on Wednesday 14 October (4.30 - 7.30pm) to stimulate further discussion amongst stakeholders to identify the priority areas that need addressing when seeking to improve the use of research evidence in the Family Justice System. These views will then inform the specification for a scoping exercise to ensure that any solutions proposed successfully meet various stakeholder needs.

This event has limited capacity and by invitation only; however, if you are interested in bidding for the scoping exercise please contact Alison Rees (arees@nuffieldfoundation.org) to request a place.