Department for Education confirms new Chair of Cafcass
Education Secretary Michael Gove has appointed Baroness Tyler as the new Chair of the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass).
Cafcass looks after the interests of children involved in care and family proceedings. It works with children, families and social workers to advise the courts on what is best for the child.
Baroness Tyler has been appointed for three years, starting today.
Michael Gove said:
I am pleased to appoint Baroness Tyler as the new Chair of Cafcass. Claire brings a wealth of expertise to the role which will help to ensure that children’s interests are always at the heart of care and family court proceedings.
Baroness Tyler said:
I am delighted to be taking up the post of Chair of Cafcass, a role which brings together the two big passions in my working life over the last 10 years - improving life chances for children in care and ameliorating the consequences of family breakdown for children caught in the middle.
Cafcass provides a valuable service for children who enter the family court system, whether it’s through care proceedings or because their parents have separated. It is vital children’s interests are properly represented in court. I look forward to working with colleagues across the family justice system, and Cafcass Chief Executive Anthony Douglas, to strengthen the work of Cafcass.
Claire Tyler (Baroness Tyler of Enfield)
Baroness Tyler has been Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Relate, the country’s leading relationship support agency, since 2007, and is a working Peer in the House of Lords. She has previously been the Director of Vulnerable Children’s Group in the Department for Education and Skills (DfES); the Head of the Government’s Social Exclusion Unit; and Board Member in the former Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. She has also been the Chair of ‘Kids in the Middle’, a coalition of charities in the children and family sector campaigning to reduce the impact of high conflict parental separation on children. She also worked for the Connexions Service, becoming the Deputy CEO in 2000 and then Acting Chief Executive.
Notes to editors
The appointment was agreed in accordance with the Code of Practice issued by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA) and was made on merit; political activity played no part in the decision making process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations and the code of practice, there is a requirement for appointees’ political activity (if any declared) and other information, to be made public.
| Name |
Term of office and length of appointment |
Political activity declared |
Remuneration | Other public appointments |
| Baroness Tyler | First term for three years | Working Liberal Democrat Peer in the House of Lords | £555 per day based on 80 days per year | None |
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