AJTC sets out its vision
Welcome to the latest edition of 'Adjust'. In this edition, we report on the highlights from our launch and begin to set out our vision for the administrative justice landscape. AJTC launch highlightsSpeeches from the launchLord Newton of Braintree, Chair, AJTC Lord Justice Carnwath, Senior President of Tribunals Ann Abraham, Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman The AJTC was also delighted to welcome Bridget Prentice MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, and Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers, Lord Chief Justice. Read Bridget Prentice's speech here and Lord Phillips' speech here.
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The Education (Admissions Appeals Arrangements) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2007 (SI 2007/3205) and a new School Admissions Appeals Code were laid before Parliament on 16 November 2007. They are due to come into force on 17 January 2008 and apply to appeals in respect of decisions on admissions communicated on or after 1 March 2008. more>. |
Pupil Exclusions: Updated Guidance
The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) has updated its guidance on school exclusions. 'Improving Behaviour and Attendance Guidance on Exclusion from Schools and Pupil Referral Units: September 2007' replaces the September 2006 edition and is available to download here.
Information for School and College Governors (ISCG):
Manual for Governing Bodies and Clerks 2007
The ISCG have published their latest updated Manual for Governing Bodies and their Clerks 2007. The guide provides ideas for good practice on everyday roles and responsibilities as well as key points of law. More information can be found on their website.
Tribunals Service
Customer Satisfaction Survey
The Tribunals Service has contracted FDS International Ltd to conduct a Customer Satisfaction Survey. The survey will be carried out at intervals throughout 2007, 2008 and 2009 and it is hoped the results will allow the TS to develop a Key Performance Indicator for customer satisfaction and measure customer service performance across the TS.
Launch of the Welsh Language Scheme
The Tribunals Service launched its Welsh Language Scheme in August 2007. The scheme sets out how the TS will provide services in Welsh to the public in Wales and covers:
- Service planning and delivery;
- Dealing with the Welsh speaking public;
- The public face of the TS in Wales;
- Implementation of the scheme.
For more information and a copy of the guide, go here.
Judicial Studies Board
Tribunals Training Prospectus, 2008
The JSB has published the 2008 edition of its Tribunals Training Prospectus, which sets out the JSB's programme of judgecraft and generic skills training for the tribunal judiciary. The most recent addition is a one-day induction skills seminar aimed principally at non-legal panel members. A skills seminar for new tribunal mentors designed to complement the recent DVD 'Supporting the Judiciary – the Mentoring Process' is also now offered. The Prospectus provides an outline of each training event, details on how to make nominations and the areas of support that the JSB can provide in the design and delivery of individual training programmes. The Prospectus is available here (pdf, 0.7MB). A summary of forthcoming courses advertised in the Prospectus is shown below.
Tribunal Skills Development (places available for both)
31 March - 2 April 08
8-10 October 08
Tribunal Advanced Skills Course (places available)
10-11 November 2008
Training the Trainer (places available)
5-6 June 2008
Effective use of Small Groups in Training (limited places)
23 January 2008
Tribunal Competences - Qualities and Abilities in Action
The JSB's Competence Framework for Chairmen and Members of Tribunals (pdf, 0.2MB) has been revised and Faye Windmill describes what prompted the review, how the work was conducted, and the amendments that have been made. more >
Scotland
Scrutiny of Local Government: Crerar Report
This report on the audit, inspection and regulation of public services recommends that one single body should oversee scrutiny of local government in Scotland.
The Independent Review of Regulation, Audit, Inspection and Complaints Handling of Public Services in Scotland, chaired by Professor Lorne Crerar, makes 42 recommendations to improve the role of scrutiny within the public sector. The report can be viewed here.
International
Comparative Study of Best Practice in Mental Health Review and Decision Making
John Lesser, President of the Mental Health Review Board of Victoria, Australia and 2006 Churchill Fellow*, has completed a study evaluating mental health review and decision making systems in England, Scotland, the Netherlands, Denmark and Canada. The study, entitled ‘Review and Decision Making for Persons with a Serious Mental Illness: Achieving Best Practice – a cross-jurisdictional evaluation of involuntary mental health review and decision-making systems’ is available to download here (pdf, 0.2MB).
*The Churchill Fellowship scheme operates in most Commonwealth countries. Successful applications are merit-based and support an unlimited range of worthwhile projects involving overseas study that will not only benefit the community, but also provide the Fellow with a potentially life-changing professional and personal experience.
Links:
- Winston Churchill Memorial Trust
- Mental Health Review Board of Victoria
Australian Administrative Review Council: Best Practice Guides for Administrative Decision Makers
The Australian Administrative Review Council has published a series of Best Practice Guides for Administrative Decision Makers. Margaret Harrison Smith, Executive Director of the ARC, talks to Adjust about the guides. more >
Australia: Legal Needs of People with a Mental Illness - Report
The Law and Justice Foundation of New South Wales has published a report, On the Edge of Justice: the Legal Needs of People with a Mental Illness. more >
Dispute Resolution in Australia: Survey
The Department of Justice in Victoria, Australia commissioned a community survey on the use of dispute resolution in Victoria. This report outlines findings from the survey, which aimed to measure recognition of, attitudes to, and experiences of alternative dispute resolution schemes operating in Victoria. Read more here.
Administrative Justice without Borders:
CCAT Conference Report
Bernard Quoroll, a member of the AJTC, attended the fourth international administrative justice conference organised by the Council of Canadian Administrative Tribunals in May this year. Read his personal account of the conference here.
La juridiction administrative en 2006
For French speakers, an article in “La Lettre de la Justice Administrative” explains how the administrative tribunals in France have been managing their increasing caseloads, particularly in asylum and immigration, social security and driving licence disputes. Tribunals have been making efforts to increase the numbers of decided cases in order to keep waiting times for hearings to a minimum. Read more here (pdf, 268KB).
People
Social Security and Child Support Appeal Tribunal
Mr Robert Martin has been appointed as President of the Social Security and Child Support Appeal Tribunal and a circuit judge as of the 1 November. Mr Martin previously served as a Regional Chairman in the Appeals Service and Immigration Adjudicator.
Competition Appeal Tribunal
Mr Gerald Edward Barling QC has been appointed as the President of the Competition Appeal Tribunal and a High Court judge as of the 5 November. He replaces Sir Christopher Bellamy who retired as President of the Competition Appeal Tribunal in February 2007.
New Chairman of the Tribunals Committee, JSB
The Honourable Mr Justice Brian Langstaff was appointed as the new Chairman of the JSB’s Tribunals Committee on 1 November 2007. He replaces The Honourable Mr Justice Jeremy Sullivan, who completed his term at the JSB after seven years in office.
Features
Asylum and Immigration
Ombudsmen
Education
Tribunals Service
Judicial Studies Board
Scotland
International
People
Research
Have your say!
We welcome news and views on any subject related to administrative justice and tribunals. Email your thoughts to: enquiries@ajtc.gsi.gov.uk.
Pass it on!
Please forward Adjust to people who might find it interesting.To have your name added to our list of recipients, please email adjust_mailing@ajtc.gsi.gov.uk
Update your links
If you have an active link on your website which points to the Council on Tribunals, please update it to reflect the new changes. Our new name is the Administrative Justice & Tribunals Council and our web address is www.ajtc.gov.uk.
Next edition of Adjust – Dispute Resolution Special
The next edition of Adjust will focus on dispute resolution processes both in the UK and overseas. If you have an interesting experience you should like to share, or have examples of best practice within a particular jurisdiction, we would be pleased to hear from you. Contact us at enquiries@ajtc.gsi.gov.uk.
Worth a click:
Peopleandparticipation.net helps people who work in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors and who need to involve a wider group of people in their work. The site provides information, advice, case studies and opportunities to share experiences with others in order to make public participation activities as effective as possible.
Administrative Justice in Wales
The report of the AJTC's 'Administrative Justice in Wales' conference in June is now available on our website and to download here. Speeches include a discussion of justice in Wales by Lord Justice Thomas, the Welsh Language by Her Honour Judge Eleri Rees, the Liaison Judge for the Welsh Language, and information about the tribunal reform programme in Wales by His Honour Judge Hickinbottom.
Research
Empirical Research on Tribunals 1992-2007
Professor Martin Partington, research advisor to the Senior President, and his assistants Ed Kirton-Darling and Frances McClenaghan, have produced an annotated bibliography of the main research studies relevant to the Tribunals Service which have been published over the past 20 years. The review is now available to download here.
Dispute Resolution and Avoidance in Education
Professor Neville Harris and Professor Sheila Riddell are undertaking a research study entitled 'Dispute Resolution and Avoidance in Education: A Study of Special and Additional Support Needs in England and Scotland'. The study is an Economic & Social Research Council (ESRC) funded research project based at the Universities of Manchester and Edinburgh.
Review of the Economic Impact of Employment Relations Services Delivered by ACAS
The National Institute of Economic and Social Research has published a report showing the positive economic impact that ACAS has on the UK economy. The report’s findings demonstrate that ACAS makes a significant contribution to businesses, employees and consumers and the economy more broadly. For every pound spent by ACAS, over £16 is returned, generating benefits worth almost £800 million a year across UK businesses, employees and the economy. Read more here.
Administrative Justice Research
Are you an academic working in the field of administrative justice?
The AJTC's website has a new section exclusively for promoting research related to the administrative justice field. If you are working in an academic field and wish to publicise your research, please contact us and we would be delighted to consider posting this on our website.
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Advancing Administrative Justice | ADJUST December 2007 |  |