CAFCASS has landed

As far as guardians were concerned, it was not so much a landing as a belly flop, there being much unresolved confusion and anger over their status, terms of contract, remuneration, expenses and income tax liability. Furthermore, the statutory instruments introducing the consequential amendments to the rules had not, and still had not at the time of writing, come into force and have been published only in draft. Nevertheless, on Sunday 1 April the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000 brought the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service into being (see 20/LL p30).