Napo presses Cafcass senior management on Health and Safety concerns

Thank you to all those members that have contacted Napo to raise their concerns following Cafcass' 'business as usual' message issued prior to the second lockdown.

Last week, Napo made robust representations both in our regular meeting with Senior Cafcass Management and by letter to Jacky Tiotto, Cafcass' Chief Executive. We also gave feedback in relation to the revised guidance on direct contact with children and families, returning to the office and attendance at Court. We requested an urgent meeting with Jacky, which she has agreed to, and which we hope will take place this week.

We raised particular concern in relation to Cafcass' enthusiastic messaging in relation to all children and young people being seen in person which was causing anxiety among our members that their health and safety was not being prioritised by their employer. We expressed our view that this messaging did not account for the position of staff with known vulnerabilities and that it undermined and seriously impacted upon the Cafcass risk assessment process.

We also said that we were disappointed that Cafcass had not given timely advice, as per the Government's guidance, to let those staff who are defined as clinically extremely vulnerable that they should be working from home, and for those who are defined as clinically vulnerable and or are aged 60 to be especially careful to follow the rules and minimise contact with others. We were reassured to see that Cafcass issued this guidance at the end of last week and we would absolutely urge our members to follow this and to seek or review their risk assessment if they have underlying health vulnerabilities or identify as being part of the BAME community. 

As per the Government's guidance, we would also urge our members to work from home wherever possible. We would also reiterate to our members that all intended contact with service users away from Cafcass offices should be subject to a risk assessment and be discussed and signed off with your line manager.

Our National Vice-Chair, Nicola Taylor-Ebong, attended the 'think in' session today to consider the implications of seeing children, in her professional capacity as a Family Court Advisor. The meeting heard that the revised guidance on direct contact with children and families, returning to the office and attendance at Court would be issued later in the week. During the meeting Jacky Tiotto acknowledged that workloads were high, that the hybrid way of working would be in place for some time to come and that Cafcass did not expect that every child or young person must be seen in person. 

We will of course update you after our meeting with Jacky and once we have considered the revised guidance.