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Child Focused Model
17 March 2026
Type
Written Ministerial Statement
Department
Ministry of Justice
At a Glance
Issue Summary
The Minister is announcing the national rollout of the Child Focused Model in the family courts to improve outcomes for children and parents involved in private law proceedings.
Action Requested
The Government is committed to rolling out the model nationally over three years, investing £17 million in 2026/27 to expand it in the North East, North West, and East Midlands. The funding will increase social worker capacity for Cafcass and Cafcass Cymru, and introduce new domestic abuse specialists.
Key Facts
- The Child Focused Model is currently active in 10 out of 43 court areas across England and Wales.
- Families benefit from a streamlined approach that doubles the percentage of children seen by social workers.
- The model reduces case duration by up to seven and a half months, halving backlogs in pilot areas.
- £17 million will be invested in 2026/27 for the next expansion phase.
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