Cafcass Practice Week 2026

So glad to have been asked back to help document this annual staff training week. 

Lots of food for thought and some tough subject matter, including a huge rise in 'Deprivation of Liberty Orders' and an increase in serious incidents.

It's a difficult time in the family courts with rising number of people in the system and pressures on local services, not to mention the rising cost of living and how that impacts family dynamics. A perfect storm.

Merton Safeguarding Children Partnership

This is for the annual report for the MSCP, an explainer of the top level things they have achieved and have planned.

Sad to see so much more about preventing domestic and honour-based violence, but at least there is more awareness and an aim to tackle this issue, and create more safe spaces.

The image is very much packed full, so here is a break down of the various ‘parts’:

 

World Health Organisation and The Lancet Commission

I've spent the last couple of days listening to climate scientists discussing the urgency of Sea-Level Rise in the Asia-Pacific region and other regions, and trying to weave together various working groups in order to streamline their story for a Lancet Commission.

I can't show the whole thing, but here are some snippets. The full commission will be out in a couple of years, which I can't help thinking is way too long, as this matter is so urgent. Huge numbers of displaced people will be needing support in the coming years, and we're not reacting quickly enough.

 

A Tale of Two Cities (in Derby!)

I was asked to created some drawings for the Derby School Inclusion conference that happened back in June. Unfortunately, whilst all the schools have signed up to the Inclusion Charter, the number of annual exclusions is still rising. 

This story plus some acted out theatre sketches were used to illustrate different behavioural approaches to difficult situations at school. Hats off to all the teachers out there - it's a really hard job!

Thanks to Jo Wilkinson at the Derby County Community Trust's Inclusion Partnership for asking me back! https://inclusionpartnership.co.uk/