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We improve the lives of children and families by putting data and evidence at the heart of the family justice system.

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Featured

Child-focused, data-driven: Learning from youth justice to improve family justice data

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Featured

Judges asked to write to children involved in court proceedings explaining why they made their decision

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Featured

Recurrent care proceedings: five key areas for reflection from the research (update)

Explore our current focus areas

Inequalities

Maintaining Relationships

COVID-19

Private law

Newborn babies

Special guardianship and kinship care

Young people

Useful resources

Explore our research

Resource

Data | 2025

Child-focused, data-driven: Learning from youth justice to improve family justice data

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Resource

Young people | 2025

Towards a child-first family justice data strategy: Six key insights from youth justice

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Resource

Newborn babies | 2025

Recurrent care proceedings: five key areas for reflection from the research (update)

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Resource

Newborn babies | 2025

Newborn babies in urgent care proceedings in England and Wales: An update

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Newborn babies | 2025

What are the experiences of parents with learning disabilities or difficulties in care proceedings?

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Data | 2025

Improving lives – the power of better data in the family justice system

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Young people | 2025

This is what we think:  Perspectives on being cared for from older children and young people – including those on deprivation of liberty orders

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Newborn babies | 2025

Babies in care proceedings: What do we know about parents with learning disabilities or difficulties?

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Young people | 2025

What are the routes into care for young people in Wales?

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Private law | 2025

Uncovering private family law: how often do we hear the voice of the child? 

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Newborn babies | 2025

Understanding care pathways and placement stability for babies in Wales

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Young people | 2025

Children subject to deprivation of liberty orders

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View our work
event | 07/11/2024

In conversation with… Pauline Wigglesworth, Director of Blackpool Council’s Health Determinants Research Collaboration
event | 24/09/2024

In conversation with… Nicola Lewis
event | 12/06/2024

Babies in care proceedings: What do we know about parents with learning disabilities or difficulties? 
event | 07/02/2024

Lunchtime seminar with Lisa Merkel-Holguin, University of Colorado and Kempe Center
event | 06/02/2024

In conversation with… Richard Devine and Leigh Zywek, Bath and North East Somerset Council (BANES)
event | 21/06/2023

Webinar: New research on ethnic disparities in care proceedings
event | 16/05/2023

In conversation with…Dr Barry Coughlan and Dr Robbie Duschinsky, University of Cambridge
event | 27/04/2023

In conversation with…His Honour Judge Chris Simmonds and Her Honour Judge Gaynor Lloyd
event | 13/03/2023

Webinar: Separating families: Experiences of separation and support
event | 28/02/2023

In conversation with… Professor Peter Fonagy
event | 24/11/2022

In conversation with… Her Honour Judge Carole Burgher
event | 10/10/2022

In conversation with… Trina Robson
Explore events

Infographic

What do we know about children in the family justice system?

Our regularly updated infographic highlights what we know, and what we don’t know, about children’s journeys through the family justice system based on national administrative data.

Discover the infographic

Looking for advice?

We aren’t able to provide support or offer advice in individual cases in the family justice system but here you can view the organisations that can help.

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About Nuffield Family Justice Observatory

We are an independent body, funded by the Nuffield Foundation.

Nuffield Family Justice Observatory improves the lives of children and families by putting data and evidence at the heart of the family justice system.

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