How do CJI support FDACs
CJI is a national centre of expertise in problem-solving courts and, as part of that role, is established as the national centre for FDACs. For further information about problem-solving courts at CJI, read here.
CJI helps to support and strengthen FDACs across the UK, believing that families facing care proceedings should be able to access a court process that offers an experience of fairness and support. By championing FDAC at a national level, CJI works to ensure that more families facing care proceedings have access to a problem-solving court that understands the challenges they face and supports them to create lasting change.
CJI supports FDAC teams by providing guidance, training and practical advice to new and existing services. This includes bringing judges, social workers, and other specialists together to share learning and improve practice across the FDAC Community of Practice. CJI also works with areas interested in developing a problem-solving court approach, providing guidance and consultation. This can include, but is not limited to, supporting work around scoping and mapping, building partnerships, the development of business cases, and ensuring the voices of lived experience remain central to the development.
CJI carries out research, collects FDAC data and develops practical tools to show how FDAC works and to evidence the difference it makes for children and parents, supporting ongoing practice development and improvement. This evidence helps local services secure funding and encourages independent reviews and evaluation of the FDAC approach. Additional reports and research relating to FDAC can be found on the CJI publications web pages.
FDAC Team Manager – “CJI has been the cornerstone of support in assisting and supporting us not only set up the Birmingham and Solihull FDAC but in enabling us to contribute to more wider government and partner discussions in attempts to get this valuable service rolled out nationally. We continue to value the support, enthusiasm and partnership that we have with CJI”
FDAC Team Manager - “We cannot thank CJI enough for all the support you have given us in the set up of our FDAC here in Northamptonshire. The support we have been given has been phenomenal. Not only has the service been incredibly professional but more importantly, personable. Everyone we have worked and engaged with from CJI has been nothing but understanding and supportive whilst we navigated each challenge. We have had excellent opportunities for training as well as being linked to essential services/professionals. The linking with other FDAC teams and managers being an incredibly important aspect of our set up.”