Children Law reforms will ‘improve a good system’
CHILDREN involved in complex legal cases should be better served in future, with long delays in procedure reduced, due to a range of measures voted through by the States last week.
The changes will affect those cases in which state intervention in the lives of children and their families has been deemed necessary. They were drawn up after an extensive cross-committee examination of the current position and further changes will be recommended in future.
Health & Social Care president Al Brouard said he was very pleased with the outcome of the debate, in which HSC was able to push through its reforms.
The amendments to HSC’s policy letter which succeeded had the effect only of providing further clarity on specific matters.
Deputy Peter Roffey’s attempts to change policy regarding the competing roles of the court and tribunals was defeated but with that battle lost, he threw his weight enthusiastically behind the meat of the wide-ranging policy letter.
‘It’s been a complex piece of work reviewing the Children’s Law and outcomes,’ Deputy Brouard said.
‘Our system is very good based around the Child, Youth and Community tribunal system, but all systems can be improved.
‘With the value of experience, there is delay in the system and duplication, and this first phase of reviewing the system has made some changes to help and when necessary, add some alternative routes.
‘This is a very important and sensitive area when considering the welfare of children, and in some cases where we have to intervene.’
