The Family Justice Council (FJC) is an independent public body, funded by the Ministry of Justice. Since 1 October 2010 it has been sponsored by the Judicial Office; the body of civil servants set up to support the Judiciary following the Constitutional Reform Act 2005. This is why the FJC website now appears on the Advisory Bodies section of the Judicial Office website.
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About the FJC
The Family Justice Council (FJC) was established in 2004 with the aim of stimulating better and quicker outcomes for families and in the family court service. The Council sits between government and the courts of the family justice system. It speaks with both the experience of its members, all eminent in their fields, and an understanding of the realities of the system on the ground as perceived by its 39 Local Family Justice Councils.
The national Council of 30 members meets quarterly and includes expertise from the legal (judges, barristers, solicitors), medical (a paediatrician and a child psychiatrist) and social care (Cafcass representation and a Director of Children's services) worlds.
It is supported by a dedicated secretariat based in the Royal Courts of Justice. The Family Justice Council has authority to appoint sub-committees or working groups to do detailed work where needed.
FJC Terms of Reference
The Council's key roles are to:
- Promote an inter-disciplinary approach to family justice
- monitor how effectively the system delivers the service the Government and the public need and,
- advise on reforms necessary for continuous improvement
It is specifically charged with:
- Promoting improved inter-disciplinary working across the family justice system through discussion and co-ordination between all agencies
- identifying and disseminating best practice throughout the family justice system by facilitating an exchange of information between local family justice councils and the national Council, and by identifying priorities for, and encouraging the conduct of, research
- providing guidance and direction to achieve consistency of practice throughout the family justice system and submitting proposals for new practice directions where appropriate, and
- providing advice and making recommendations to government on changes to legislation, practice and procedure, which will improve the workings of the family justice system.
