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Family

We’re delivering reform – and starting to make a difference

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Civil, Court and tribunal reform, Crime, Digital services, Family, Tribunals

The second in a series of blog posts from Susan Acland-Hood. The first one set out why reform is needed and why we need to do more to engage and talk more widely about what we’re doing. In this blog post Susan talks a bit more about the approach we are taking to reform, and why we are well set up to succeed and explains about what impact changes have already made.

We're pausing court hours pilots to get evaluation and other changes right

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Civil, Court and tribunal reform, Crime, Family, Tribunals

A blog from Susan Acland-Hood on our plans to re-tender for an independent organisation to lead the evaluation work for the flexible operating hours pilot. At the same time, we’ll make more information available and spend more time with legal professionals in each jurisdiction, including those outside the pilot areas, to refine our plans. This will mean the pilots will now begin in February next year.

We're changing for a purpose - and listening too

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Civil, Court and tribunal reform, Crime, Digital services, Family, Tribunals

Susan Acland-Hood reflects on what she has learnt since she started as CEO of HMCTS last November. Susan explains her plans to write a set of blog posts that outline what we need to do, what we’ve done so far, what our plans are, and how to get involved in shaping HMCTS’s reforms for the future. This blog post focuses on her first-hand observations of our courts and tribunals system, its strength and value, but also the deep challenges it faces and the reasons why she believes only radical reform can make it flourish for the future.

Improvements to victim and witness rooms

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Civil, Crime, Customer experience and research, Family

A blog post from Liz Olney, Deputy Director for Customer Change and Innovation at HMCTS. Liz shares our recent work to transform our victim and witness rooms. We see over 156,000 individuals coming to court to give evidence each year and rely on evidence provided by victims and witnesses to support the carriage of justice. It’s important we provide the best environment so that individuals can present their cases well.

How remote working will give users and courts greater flexibility

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Civil, Court and tribunal reform, Crime, Digital services, Family

A blog post from Fiona Rutherford, which discusses the implementation of remote working, specifically virtual hearings. Fiona talks about the opportunities (and responsibility) presented by the ‘once in a generation’ £1 billion investment in our courts and tribunals. This work will re-shape how we enable access to the justice system and how we deliver our reformed public services in the future.

Working with stakeholders to develop an online divorce service

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Digital services, Family
Man standing at table giving a presentation.

A blog post from Adam Lennon, Divorce Service Manager at HMCTS. Adam talks about how we are working with stakeholders to develop and an online divorce service and shares details of a workshop with legal practitioners that demonstrated the latest version of the online divorce service called ‘Apply for a divorce’.

Help with Court and Tribunal Fees – a project manager’s view

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Civil, Crime, Digital services, Family, Tribunals
Person using a laptop

A blog post from Andrew Hyland who led the HMCTS Help with Fees project. The Help with Fees (also known as fee remission) service ensures the courts and tribunals are available and accessible to those who need them – regardless of their personal circumstances. If you apply for fee remission and are on certain benefits or on a low income you may not have to pay a court or tribunal fee, or you may get some money off.