SPOTLIGHT
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What now for deprivations of liberty?

What will the effect of the postponement of the Liberty Protections Safeguards be on local authorities? Local Government Lawyer asked 50 adult social care lawyers for their views on the potential consequences.

Family President launches rapid consultation on remote, hybrid and in-person hearings in family justice system and Court of Protection

The President of the Family Division, Sir Andrew McFarlane, has launched a two-week rapid consultation on remote, hybrid and in-person hearings in the family justice system and the Court of Protection.

The research is the third such survey and comes 15 months after remote hearings were first put in place at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This third survey, which will again be undertaken by the Nuffield Family Justice Observatory (NFJO, will focus specifically on recovery; identifying good practice from remote and hybrid hearings and providing an evidence base to assist with the decisions regarding future ways of working, as a return to court is made.

More details about the survey are available online. The consultation period runs until 27 June 2021 and the findings will be available for the President’s Conference in July 2021.

The NFJO will seek to gather evidence from families with children and all professionals working in the family justice system, including judges, barristers, solicitors, Cafcass workers, court staff and social workers.

The consultation can be accessed online.