Cafcass Cymru Advisory Committee meeting minutes: 11 March 2025

• Tracey Holdsworth (Chair) NSPCC Cymru
• Mike Clark TGP Cymru
• Jennifer Gibbon-Lynch Family Justice Young People’s Board (FJYPB)
• Olivia Family Justice Young People’s Board (FJYPB)
• Paul Apreda FNF Both Parents Matter Cymru
• Sarah Coldrick Association of Fostering and Adoption (AFA) Cymru
• Gareth Jenkins Association of Directors of Social Services Cymru (ADSS) Representative
• Sara Kirkpatrick Welsh Women’s Aid
• Sharon Lovell National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS)
• Samantha Williams Learning Disability Wales
• Astrid Davis Chair of Cardiff Family Panel & Magistrate
• Nigel Brown Cafcass Cymru
• Matthew Pinnell Cafcass Cymru
• De Litchfield Cafcass Cymru
• Bethan Altman Cafcass Cymru
• Lydia Hall-Mulvaney Cafcass Cymru (Secretariat)

Apologies were received from: 

• Catrin Cracroft Law Society Representative
• HHJ Jayne Scannell Judiciary
• Donna Mulhern HMCTS
• Sean O’Neill Children in Wales
• Helen Mary Jones Voices from Care Cymru
• Suzanne Burgoyne Cafcass Cymru 

The Chair welcomed everybody to the meeting and read out the received apologies.

Members agreed the minutes of the meeting on 5 November 2024 were an accurate record and there were no matters arising. It was also acknowledged that the actions pertaining from the last Advisory Committee meeting have been completed and can be closed.

Nigel provided a comprehensive overview of the data and performance reports for both Public and Private Law. Nigel also provided a detailed summary of the upcoming changes to the data sets & KPI’s, advising that by the next Advisory Committee meeting the management information is expected to have taken the new KPI’s into account. 

Paul Apreda voiced concern that the proposals were not outcome focused and requested this be minuted. Tracey and Nigel responded to a range of questions raised by committee members including Paul’s concern.

Olivia delivered an excellent presentation covering the following topics:

• As a result of the recent recruitment campaign, the FJYPB have successfully recruited and expanded its members to a total of 7 in Wales and confirmed that the new board members have public law experience.
• As part of the Cafcass Cymru staff induction, two FJYPB members are due to interview Matthew Pinnell next month about his role and the impact of involving the FJYPB in work across Cafcass Cymru.
• The FJYPB have reviewed and provided important feedback on the Cafcass Cymru Domestic Abuse Practice Guidance which is due to launch on 14th May and their feedback will be incorporated into the guidance and embedded into practice.
• The FJYPB have worked closely with Nuffield Family Justice Observatory to help create a ‘Judges Writing to Children’ toolkit which has been launched by the President of the Family Division.
• The next ‘Voice of the Child’ FJYPB conference is due to take place online on 31st July. Committee members were asked to save the date and further information to follow in the coming months. 

The Chair and members of the Advisory Committee thanked Olivia for her excellent presentation.

Sara Kirkpatrick suggested whether signposting relevant resources could be incorporated into the interview with the FJYPB members and Matthew Pinnell. Jennifer Gibbon-Lynch advised that this could be considered further.

Nigel provided an overview of the Practice Review Findings, advising that the findings from the Practice Review would contribute to ongoing practice development and quality of work. Nigel also provided a summary on changes as a result of the Practice Review, such as amendments to the case plan model to ensure it is more streamlined, timely and evidence-based recordings, participation with children in court proceedings and the upcoming changes to the case plan. 

Paul Apreda queried whether parent’s engagement could be considered similarly to engagement with children. 

Action: Nigel and Matthew to consider further.

Matthew provided an update on Pathfinder, advising that the whole of Wales is now operating under the Pathfinder model. The launch in the remaining areas has been received well, there will be a transition period while legacy cases are running alongside Pathfinder cases and we expect to be working exclusively on Pathfinder in the coming months. 

Tracey Holdsworth commended Cafcass Cymru on the success of Pathfinder.

Bethan Altman attended the meeting to provide a comprehensive update on the Cafcass Cymru Domestic Abuse Practice Guidance. Bethan advised that the Domestic Abuse Practice Guidance is due to launch on 14th May and provided a helpful overview of the work Cafcass Cymru has undertaken alongside the Welsh Women’s Aid secondee to ensure that the guidance is successful; in particular Bethan noted the importance of the Safe & Together training and the drive for all Practitioners to be working under this model. Bethan advised that the Safe & Together model has been well received by Practitioners and together with the Practice Guidance the aim is to improve trauma informed practice and offer safer outcomes for children. 

Bethan responded to questions raised by committee members. It was agreed that the draft Practice Guidance would be circulated to Advisory Committee members and for any comments/observations to be sent to Lydia Hall-Mulvaney. 

Sara Kirkpatrick and Tracey Holdsworth praised the hard work & approaches Cafcass Cymru are taking.

There being no further business to discuss, the meeting concluded. 

The next meeting of the committee will be on the 8 July 2025 from 16:00 - 17:30 via Teams