Inspecting Cafcass: framework
The framework for Ofsted inspections of Cafcass (the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service).
Applies to England
Documents
Details
The inspection framework, introduced in April 2021, sets out how Ofsted will inspect the quality and effectiveness of Cafcass’s private and public law practice with children and families and the impact of leaders on private and public law practice with children and families. In evaluating the impact of the service, the inspection will also evaluate how well Cafcass positively influences the effectiveness of the family justice system both locally and nationally.
Updates to this page
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Applications to the High Court to deprive children of their liberty have been added to the ‘Scope’ section to make it clear that these are included. Further, a paragraph has been added under ‘Off-site evaluation’ in the ‘Inspections’ section, to set out that inspectors’ off-site evaluation activity may include speaking to the judiciary, local authority senior leaders and any other stakeholders who are likely to provide insights. The documents listed in 'Cafcass Annex A: information and data request' have also been updated. More detail has been added and the items numbered. Finally, a 'Summary of framework changes' document has been added to the page.
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In the ‘Notifying Cafcass and requesting information’ section, we have clarified how the provider can request any adaptations to the inspection process due to a protected characteristic, or any reasonable adjustments due to a disability.
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This framework has been updated to clarify that, when applying the handbook, inspectors will take appropriate action to comply with Ofsted’s Equality Act duties, clarification on the opportunities for the centre to discuss and/or provide information on potential equalities duties, including reasonable adjustments for individuals, clarification regarding Ofsted’s updated arrangements for publishing the report, quality assurance and handling concerns and complaints in line with Ofsted’s new complaints process in the timeframe sections, references to Ofsted’s pausing process, and minor revision to the ‘Inspection activity and gathering evidence’ section (what inspectors will take into account when evaluating children’s experience).
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Additional guidance on deferring an inspection, inspector conduct during inspections, when and how the provider can raise issues, concerns or complaints during and after the inspection, supporting the well-being of the provider’s managers and staff during inspections and visits, attendance at keeping in touch meetings, discussions with staff and feedback meetings and who the provider may share provisional and final inspection outcomes with.
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Correction to the wording of the relevant (outstanding) evaluation criteria.
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First published.