Learning from the Private Law ‘Pathfinder Pilot Evaluations - Dr Charlotte Barlow & Dr Clare Scollay

This online webinar will present findings from the two evaluations of the Private Law Pathfinder Pilot conducted by Dr Charlotte Barlow and team at the University of Lancashire.

In 2020, the UK Government published the Harm Panel Report which highlighted how family courts and child arrangement proceedings often increased existing domestic abuse and led to traumatisation of adult and child victim-survivors. Subsequently, two pilot Pathfinder Integrated Domestic Abuse Courts were established to improve the experiences for families in child arrangement disputes in private family law. The model is designed to bring a more problem solving, investigative approach which enables the system to ensure the voices and experiences of children are central to the decision making.

The webinar will include reflections from a two-stage evaluation of these courts, incorporating the perspectives of professionals working across the two areas and families who have been through the Pathfinder process. The presentation will focus on the extent to which the new process has improved the court experience for families and reduced re-traumatisation for victim-survivors of domestic abuse.