Helping Families After Divorce: Assistance by Order?

Confusion and contradiction surround family assistance orders, made available under Section 16 of the 1989 Children Act to provide social work help for families experiencing problems as a result of separation or divorce. The family assistance order requires the probation officer or social worker to advise, assist and (where appropriate) befriend those named in the order. Much time and effort is involved in working with these orders and yet the process of making and managing them is fraught with difficulty - from orders being recorded incorrectly through to policy and practice issues. Based on a national survey of family court welfare services, interviews with welfare officers, senior probation managers and judges, and an examination of case records, the authors investigate how the order is being used throughout the country and why different areas appear to be making orders at different rates. They present the current situation and discuss fundamental difficulties associated with the order. Many important issues are raised by this study, which has far-reaching implications for the review of support services for the family courts currently being undertaken. It is essential reading for professionals associated with family law in general, and those concerned with the welfare of children and families post-divorce/separation in particular.