The First Update of the Family Justice Modernisation Programme

Mr Justice Ryder has published the first Update of the Family Justice Modernisation Programme.

Mr Justice Ryder's appointment lasts until the end of July 2012 and his aim is to have agreed proposals for the modernisation of family justice and to have a plan for their implementation by then.

The key workstreams he has identified so far are as follows.

1. Family justice governance
2. Family management information (including performance and effectiveness)
3. Judicial and inter-disciplinary training and communication
4. Unified Family Court
5. Judicial leadership and management
6. Judicial deployment (including patterns and listing guidance)
7. Gatekeeping and allocation (including tracking and continuity)
8. Case management (including case progression, timetables and deadlines)
9. Use of experts and assessors
10. External services including court social work, mediation and ADR, contact services, safeguarding, testing, experts, representation and support in court.

The First Update is available for download here.