FCA training in process of gathering witness statements not ordered by a judge/court

Response to this request is long overdue. By law, under all circumstances, Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service should have responded by now (details). You can complain by requesting an internal review.

Dear Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service,

1.Please provide the training provided to the CAFCASS FCA in gathering witness statements from parties not involved in proceedings
2. Provide the information provided to the FCA that permits them from allowing parties to have sight of a witness statement in order to defend allegations
3. Please provide the training CAFCASS provide the FCA to correctly assess allegations/false allegations in witness statements gathered but not ordered by a judge/court
4.in 2018 How many CAFCASS FCA’s have undertaken the role of gathering/assessing/ formulating questions in witness statements of parties not involved in proceedings not ordered by a judge the courts
5. What guidance/authorisation from family court division was provided to CAFCASS FCA to telephone witnesses also not part of proceedings nor ordered by a judge/court

Yours faithfully,

[Name Removed]

Dear Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service,

In addition please provide:

1. The information provided to the FCA that ‘prevents’ parties from having sight of witness statements the FCA gathers against them without the order of a judge/court

Yours faithfully,

[Name Removed]

Governance, Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service

1 Attachment

Dear Ms Soeder,

 

Thank you for your email. Please accept this as a formal acknowledgement
of your Freedom of Information request received on 09 October 2019.

 

Your reference number is CAF 19 - 171.

 

We aim to respond to you promptly, and at the latest 20 working days from
receipt of your request. You will therefore receive a response on or
before 05 November 2019.

 

Kind regards,

 

Governance Team | Cafcass

* [1][CAFCASS request email] | ü [2]www.cafcass.gov.uk 

 

[3]Cafcass_Logo_2014_email

 

 

 

 

 

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Governance, Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service

2 Attachments

Dear Ms Soeder,

 

Thank you for your email. Please find attached our response to your
Freedom of Information request.

 

Kind regards,

 

Governance Team | Cafcass

* [1][CAFCASS request email] | ü [2]www.cafcass.gov.uk 

[3]Cafcass_Logo_2014_email

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cafcass email addresses have changed to end in @cafcass.gov.uk. Please
ensure you update your address book. For more information on this change
please see our  [4]website

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Dear Governance,

1.Re: question 4: inaccurate response as data has been provided to you

2. To be clear, your records will show The FCA ‘controlling evidence’ as a process which is not CAFCASS remit and CAFCASS Legal will understand the legal complexities.

Yours sincerely,

[Name Removed]

Governance, Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service

1 Attachment

Dear Ms Soeder,

 

Thank you for your email.

 

In regards to question four, Cafcass does not have information on how many
Cafcass FCAs have undertaken the role of gathering/assessing/ formulating
questions in witness statements of parties not involved in proceedings not
ordered by a judge the courts in 2018. This is not a matter that Cafcass
collects or collates information on.

 

Information about Cafcass’ practice in relation to Witness Statements has
been provided to you in previous FOI responses.

 

Kind regards,

 

Governance Team | Cafcass

* [1][CAFCASS request email] | ü [2]www.cafcass.gov.uk 

[3]Cafcass_Logo_2014_email

 

 

 

 

 

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