A scoping study commissioned by the Nuffield Foundation and led by Professor Karen Broadhurst at Lancaster University has launched a nationwide call for evidence to better understand the use of research evidence in the family justice system, and to inform the development of a proposed family justice observatory.
Submissions are invited from policy, practice and research leads on behalf of their organisations representing one or more of the following stakeholder groups within the family justice system:
- Practitioners (e.g. judges, lawyers, barristers, experts, social workers).
- System-wide users (e.g. national and local policy makers).
- Researchers and analysts (e.g. academic, government, independent).
- Parties to cases (e.g. young people, parents, extended family members, other carers).
The scoping study was commissioned by the Nuffield Foundation as part of its work to address the limited availability and use of research findings and administrative data in family justice decision-making, a key problem identified by the Family Justice Review.
The aim of the study is to develop proposals for the purpose, functions, and delivery options for a family justice observatory. It is led by Professor Karen Broadhurst at Lancaster University, in partnership with the Alliance for Useful Evidence, University College London, Research in Practice, Loughborough University, Family Rights Group and CoramBAAF.
For full details of the call for evidence and the process for responding, go to the scoping study website.
The deadline for submissions is Monday 31 October 2016.
