Elizabeth Coe, NACCC CEO and member of the Family Solutions Group (FSG) multi-disciplinary team, was honoured to attend last night’s landmark event, ‘Family Solutions: 5 Years On,’ held in the historic Crypt of St Etheldreda’s, London.
The evening brought together a wealth of dignitaries, organisations, charities, and key stakeholders working to support separated parents, and provided an excellent opportunity to celebrate the FSG’s progress, reflect on persistent challenges, and unite around future initiatives.
Family Solutions Group History
The event commenced with a welcoming and informative speech by The Right Honourable Lord Justice Cobb. He explained the group’s formation following a 2018 request from The Right Honourable Sir Andrew MacFarlane (President of the Family Division and NACCC Patron), who sought to reconfigure the private law system within family justice.
Lord Justice Cobb recounted how he assembled a small working group of enthusiastic professionals with an aim to look at ways in which the family court could improve the experience for children and parents who were going through separation.
These initial discussions naturally shifted from the Family Court to the broader separation experience of families. He credited Helen Adam (the working group’s persistent member) for championing the concept of a holistic Family Solutions Service, of which the court might be a part, ensuring that children could be put first.
The Family Solutions Group was officially born from this vision, with its first meeting taking place on February 13, 2020, with Helen Adam as Chair.
Lord Justice Cobb praised the collective effort:
It is extremely important for all of us that families who are going through that painful experience of separation know where to find the services to support them. It’s a testament to Helen and those many of you who are associated with the solutions agenda for families that it is as strong and vibrant and enthusiastic and full of ideas five years on.
Spotlight on New Initiatives and FSG Projects
FSG Chair Helen Adam took to the stage to give an overview of the group’s important work, notably addressing the need for a Commissioner for Family Separation. She highlighted that the post-separation landscape is significantly less bleak than it was five years ago, thanks to the collaborative efforts of the sector.
A powerful short film on the need for a Commissioner for Children was also screened, which included an address from NACCC Patron, Sir Andrew MacFarlane.
The evening showcased several “snapshot” presentations from practitioners working on key initiatives, including:
- Marcie Shaoul: Discussion of the Directory of Separated Parenting Programme.
- James Hayhurst: Presentation on The Parents Promise/Positive Parenting Alliance Education project.
- Shakira Paulas: Explaining Your Direction Workshops, which provide supportive spaces for young people navigating a parent’s separation or divorce.
- Dr Angharad Rudkin: Introducing HATCAT (How Are The Children Assessment Tool), a new assessment tool for all parents.
- Samantha Callan: Highlighting the integration of early help for separated families into Family Hubs.
- Nav Mirza: Discussing the newly established charity, The Family Services Foundation.
- Stephen Wildblood KC: Demonstrating how creative arts and short vignettes can be used in training to convey messages about separation and loss.
- Carlie Norris: Concluding with a look at the future of the Family Solutions Group.
Networking and United Action
The event rounded off with essential networking, fostering connections between the huge variety of organisations dedicated to working with separated families from groups like Triple P, Only Mums & Dads, Every Parent Matters, and, of course, NACCC and it’s accredited Contact Centre staff; alongside academics, divorce coaches, mediators, and other stakeholders.
We’re proud to have Elizabeth as an active member of the Family Solutions Group, and to inform about the vital work of NACCC, and we remain committed to working alongside valued partners to ensure families have access to vital support services and continue to have safe and positive spaces to reconnect following separation.