Cafcass Cymru Advisory Committee meeting minutes: 18 July 2024

• Tracey Holdsworth (Chair), NSPCC Cymru 
• Mike Clark, TGP Cymru 
• Paul Apreda, FNF Both Parents Matter Cymru 
• Sarah Coldrick, Association of Fostering and Adoption (AFA) Cymru 
• Emma Phipps-Magill, Voices from Care 
• Sara Kirkpatrick, Welsh Women’s Aid 
• Donna Mulhern, HMCTS 
• Matthew Pinnell, Cafcass Cymru 
• De Litchfield, Cafcass Cymru 
•  Anna Sinclai, Cafcass Cymru 
• Lydia Hall-Mulvaney, Cafcass Cymru (Secretariat)

Apologies were received from:

• Nigel Brown, Cafcass Cymru 
• HHJ Jayne Scannell, Judiciary 
• Samantha Williams, Learning Disability Wales 
• Sharon Lovell, National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS) 
• Gareth Jenkins, Association of Directors of Social Services Cymru (ADSS) Representative 
• Lauren Shepherd, Family Justice Young People’s Board (FJYPB) 
• Jennifer Gibbon Lynch, Family Justice Young People’s Board (FJYPB) 
• Helal Uddin, Ethnic Minorities & Youth Support Team Wales (EYST Wales) 
• Caroline Rawson, Special Needs Advisory Project (SNAP) Cymru

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

Members agreed the minutes of the meeting on 5 March 2024 were an accurate record and there were no matters arising.

Matthew provided a comprehensive overview of the data and performance reports for both public and private law cases. Matthew provided a detailed summary of the data sets and KPI’s. Matthew also delivered an update on the Pathfinder Pilot which has been extended in North Wales and launched in both South Wales and Gwent. 

Discussion followed and Matthew responded to questions raised by committee members. 

It was agreed that outcome focused measures should be a specific item raised at the next Advisory Committee meeting in November. This would provide committee members an opportunity to consider aspirations and future timescales.

The FJYPB gave a very thorough and well-presented presentation via a recording, covering the following topics:

• Overwhelmingly positive feedback from the Cafcass Cymru staff conference on 18th April 2024.
• Cafcass England’s achievement at being rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted.
• The Cardiff University Young Person’s Participation Pathway project (YPPP), which aims to explore a new way of helping young people who are going through care proceedings have their voices heard.
• App development to offer children and young people alternative ways to engage & communicate with Cafcass Cymru.
• Pathfinder Courts draft guidance to provide children and young people with easily accessible guidance to assist them during their proceedings.
• The FJYPB also welcomed all members of the Advisory Committee to attend their online event on 25th July which will focus on the voices of children and young people.

The Chair and members of the Advisory Committee praised the FJYPB for their excellent presentation and reiterated the commitment the committee has to working closely with the FJYPB.

Anna provided a thorough update on the Pathfinder Pilot in North Wales and the launch of Pathfinder in South East Wales. 

Discussion followed and Anna & Donna responded to questions raised by committee members. 

It was agreed that outward facing documents that Cafcass Cymru provide to parents & children in Pathfinder matters with be shared with the committee. LH-M has circulated the documents to members. 

Paul requested that his concerns regarding the content of DASH RIC reports were minuted.

Matthew provided a brief update on the launch of the Practice Framework and how Cafcass Cymru aim to embed the Framework into practice.

There being no further business to discuss, the meeting was brought to a close. 

The next meeting of the committee will be on 5 November from 16:00 - 17:30 via Teams.