1. Merseyside & Cheshire Pre-court Protocol
Kitty Ferris
Service Director Safeguarding and Specialist Services
Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council

2. What have we done?
Regular meetings across Merseyside LAs, CAFCASS and Designated Family Judge
Close collaboration between Merseyside LAs
Joint agreement to tackle delay
LAs worked collaboratively to develop Protocol
Extended work to include Cheshire and Lancashire
Pre-Court Proceedings Protocol developed and agreed – for implementation from 1st July
Jointly commissioned training for social workers

3. What Motivated us?
The Family Justice Review and the challenge to our practice
A desire to tackle as a ‘system’.
The ‘red’ status of Merseyside and Cheshire
The wider context of the Munro Review of Child Protection
Delay is bad for children and expensive

4. The Pre-Court proceedings protocol
Supplements the guidance in the Public Law Outline
Provides key research messages and sources
Includes principles for effective local authority practice and issues to be addressed before issuing proceedings
Describes the key elements of pre-court work

5. Training for Social Workers
Integral to successful implementation
Leadership from LAs and Designated Family Judge is essential
Must be high quality, authentic and credible
Objectives of the training:
Introduction to the Pre Court Proceedings Protocol
Identify and address the issues that cause difficulties

6. What to we hope to achieve?
A whole system approach to improving practice and reducing delay – we see the Protocol as one element of this
For practitioners to have a useful guide and reference point
To be in a strong position to achieve the 26 week timescale
Improved quality of social work assessments and plans submitted to court
Improved outcomes for children

7. Things to think about How can you best engage the whole system?
Robust local procedures to support implementation
Where should decision making sit?
Where does this work fit in the broader context of the Munro Review of Child Protection: the changing role of social workers; the early help offer and a re-designed child protection system?
Where does this work sit in terms of the Social Work Reform Board professional competencies framework?
Commissioning, service specifications and protocols with providers
Invest to save