Vulnerable children will pay the price if social workers are excluded from being expert family court witnesses, family practitioners have warned the government.

Child care professionals met government representatives last week to educate them on the work done by independent social work experts (ISWs) and warn them of the risks to children if the proposed fee cuts cause many to quit.

Representatives from NAGALRO, the professional association for family court advisers and independent social workers; the British Association of Social Workers (BASW); the Association of Lawyers for Children (ALC); Independent Social Work Associates (ISWA); and WillisPalmer Independent Social Work Services said they were ‘dismayed at the lack of knowledge within the Ministry of Justice’ about what ISWs do.

From October 2010 the MoJ will reduce by around 50% the fees paid to ISWs who give advice to family courts in public law cases concerning children.

The groups told officials they are ‘bewildered’ as to why these experts have been singled out for ‘draconian’ fee cuts, which will cause many ISWs to leave family court work, and leave vulnerable children and families to pay the price.

The representative agencies said the decision to reduce fees is badly timed given the current crisis in social work; the loss of ISW expertise will increase costs elsewhere in the family justice system; and it will leave children more vulnerable to poor assessments.

They ask for the planned cuts to be included in the current MoJ consultation on experts’ fees and propose that any decision awaits the outcome of the ongoing Family Justice Review.

NAGALRO policy consultant Judith Timms said: ‘Our very real fear is that independent social work experience will be lost to the courts at a time when children and families desperately need it and courts themselves are under great pressure.’

Phil King from ISWA said: ‘Without ISWs courts will turn to more expensive experts like psychologists to fill the gap so costs will rise.

‘Civil servants do not seem to realise that social work expertise is in great demand. ISWs will go where their skills are better appreciated and rewarded.'

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