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Jersey Family Justice Council

The Jersey Family Justice Council (“JFJC”) was established in 2024 with the aim of overseeing the performance, operation and reform of the Family Justice system in Jersey, working towards a system focused on the best possible outcomes for children and the most positive experience for families engaged in court proceedings.  The JFJC promotes an inter-disciplinary approach to family justice.

Jersey Family Justice Council Terms of Reference

1. The Jersey Family Justice Council (JFJC) is the forum for setting direction for the family justice system in Jersey and overseeing its performance, operation, and reform.

2. JFJC works towards a family justice system that is focused on the best possible outcomes for the children who come into contact with the Jersey courts.

3. The JFJC’s strategic aims are: -

3.1 To bring together the most senior leaders working in the family justice system, government and other stakeholders to improve the experience of children involved in or impacted by the administration of family justice;
3.2 To set objectives for, and monitor, performance of the administration of family justice to ensure that key objectives are met;
3.3 To consider where reform is required and work with those responsible to develop and achieve necessary and achievable reform;
3.4 To drive the development of greater understanding of family justice, its effectiveness and the impact of how delivery of court services involving children may impact the future of the children and families involved;
3.5 To share learning and experience across the divisions of the courts administering family justice and more widely across government and other stakeholders;
3.6 To work together with all stakeholders to reduce avoidable delay;
3.7 To promote, where possible, the use of alternative dispute resolution in cases involving children;
3.8 To share more effectively the resources and knowledge of organisations and agencies working with families;

4. JFJC will achieve its aims by:-

4.1 Providing independent and cohesive expert advice on key issues relating to family justice to the government and professionals working in the field;
4.2 Highlighting cross-system issues for further consideration, commissioning expert advice and further research as required, or making recommendations to the government on research to be commissioned; 4.3 Where necessary, challenging poor performance and outcomes and bringing together learning to improve experience;

Membership of the Jersey Family Justice Council

  • Deputy Bailiff (Chair)
  • Family Court Judge
  • Commissioner of the Royal Court (with particular focus on family matters)
  • Assistant Magistrate
  • Judicial Greffier
  • Jurat representative
  • Minister for Justice and Home Affairs (with the Chief Officer for Justice and Home Affairs)
  • Minister for Children and Families
  • Children’s Health & Wellbeing / Adolescent Mental Health Service representative
  • Director Children’s Services, CYPES
  • Jersey Family Court Advisory Service representative
  • Social Worker representative
  • Senior Legal Advisor, Law Officers’ Department
  • Local law firm representation
  • The Children’s Commissioner
  • Chief Probation Officer
  • Jersey Cares representative
  • Jersey Family Law Association representative
  • Safeguarding Partnership Board representative
  • Invited expert (Doctor) re: Child Safeguarding

To contact the JFJC, please email us at JFJC@courts.je

The Annual Report of the JFJC will be published on this page.  Guidance, practice directions and articles promoting the objectives of the JFJC will also be published on this page.