Family Justice Observatory
The Project
The Nuffield Family Justice Observatory (FJO) – Development Phase
The Nuffield Family Justice Observatory will improve the use of data and research evidence in the family justice system in England and Wales in order to support the best possible decisions for children.
The leadership team, led by Professor Karen Broadhurst at Lancaster University, includes Dr Lisa Holmes and colleagues from the Rees Centre.
External Team Members
- Professor Karen Broadhurst, Dr Bachar Alrouh & Claire Mason, Centre for Child and Family Justice Research, Lancaster University
- Mary Ryan & Dr Susannah Bowyer, Research in Practice, Dartington Hall
Reports
The first estimate and profile of newborns in care proceedings in England using national population-level data:
Born Into Care: Newborns in care proceedings in England – Summary report October 2018
Research Team
More Projects
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Siblings in contact with children’s social careSeptember 2026 - March 2028Research suggests that many children in England have contact with a social worker at some point during their school years.
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Academic Leadership for Data First: Maximising the Impact of Linked Justice DataOctober 2026 - October 2031The Ministry of Justice’s Data First programme, funded by Administrative Data Research UK (ADR UK), brings together administrative data from across the justice system, creating new opportunities to understand people’s experiences of justice and generate evidence to inform policy and practice.
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The enactment of part-time timetables in English schoolsJune 2026 - May 2027Adopting a policy enactment framing, this mixed methods research study will investigate how national policy on the use of part-time timetables is being interpreted, translated, and put into practice in England.
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Interdisciplinary hub to promote developmental recovery for infantsNovember 2025 - December 2026This hub focuses on promoting optimal outcomes for infants who have had significant adverse early life experiences and whose cognitive, social and emotional development may have been impacted as a result.
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The Welsh Basic Income SchemeJuly 2022The two-year pilot intends to give each eligible care leaver a monthly payment of £1,280 (net) over twelve months with the aim of giving greater financial security during the vulnerable period of leaving care.
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Evaluation of Bright SpotsOctober 2019 - October 2020This evaluation explored how local authorities (LAs) had used the findings from the Bright Spots surveys to improve the lives of the children they look after.
More News
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NewsNew toolkit supports ethical and effective use of children’s informationSeptember 23, 2026 -
NewsResearchers awarded funding to support Ministry of Justice Data First programmeSeptember 15, 2026 -
BlogUnderstanding children and families through linked data: Opportunities and evidenceJune 19, 2026
Project Details
Start date: April 2018
End date: June 2019
Funder: Nuffield Foundation
Theme: Rees Centre
Research Team
More Projects
-
Siblings in contact with children’s social careSeptember 2026 - March 2028Research suggests that many children in England have contact with a social worker at some point during their school years.
-
Academic Leadership for Data First: Maximising the Impact of Linked Justice DataOctober 2026 - October 2031The Ministry of Justice’s Data First programme, funded by Administrative Data Research UK (ADR UK), brings together administrative data from across the justice system, creating new opportunities to understand people’s experiences of justice and generate evidence to inform policy and practice.
-
The enactment of part-time timetables in English schoolsJune 2026 - May 2027Adopting a policy enactment framing, this mixed methods research study will investigate how national policy on the use of part-time timetables is being interpreted, translated, and put into practice in England.
-
Interdisciplinary hub to promote developmental recovery for infantsNovember 2025 - December 2026This hub focuses on promoting optimal outcomes for infants who have had significant adverse early life experiences and whose cognitive, social and emotional development may have been impacted as a result.
-
The Welsh Basic Income SchemeJuly 2022The two-year pilot intends to give each eligible care leaver a monthly payment of £1,280 (net) over twelve months with the aim of giving greater financial security during the vulnerable period of leaving care.
-
Evaluation of Bright SpotsOctober 2019 - October 2020This evaluation explored how local authorities (LAs) had used the findings from the Bright Spots surveys to improve the lives of the children they look after.
More News
-
NewsNew toolkit supports ethical and effective use of children’s informationSeptember 23, 2026 -
NewsResearchers awarded funding to support Ministry of Justice Data First programmeSeptember 15, 2026 -
BlogUnderstanding children and families through linked data: Opportunities and evidenceJune 19, 2026