A CELCIS Emerging Insight Series Webinar:  

Does AI have a place in children's hearings and family law?

In the seventh webinar in our Emerging Insights series on AI in children's social care, we explored what the use of AI might mean in systems that respond to the needs and rights of children, young people and their families. 

Children, young people and families who may need the support of children’s social care navigate many legal, judicial and quasi‑judicial systems designed to respond to these needs. Organisations working within these systems have been considering what advances in artificial intelligence could mean for how things are done, and whether AI could help improve support, services and proceedings for everyone involved. 

On 24 August, we brought together colleagues from SCRA and the Nuffield Family Justice Observatory to examine the challenges and risks involved, and to consider what governance might be required for artificial intelligence to be used safely in the context of hearings and family law. 

Watch the recording to understand more about the opportunities, concerns and safeguards being explored across these systems. 

We heard from: 

• Dr Annie Taylor, Research Officer, and Jennie Laurenson, Research Coordinator, at SCRA, co-authors of ‘A Double-edged Sword’: Potential Uses of AI in the Children’s Hearing System; and 

• Dr Ellie Ott, Associate Director (Research and Data) at the Nuffield Family Justice Observatory which recently updated its briefing to prompt reflection and discussion around understanding the potential of AI and/or its challenges and risks in relation to the family justice system. 

This series of webinars is open to anyone with a professional or personal interest in and responsibility to support children and families in Scotland, the UK and anywhere in the world. This includes: 

• Practitioners in social care, health, and education  

• Service managers responsible for shaping and delivering key services 

• National and local policy leads and decision-makers 

• Local service commissioners 

• Parents and carers 

• Students and researchers of social care 

 

Source material / pre-reading

• ‘A Double-edged Sword’ Potential Uses of AI in the Children’s Hearing System: https://www.scra.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/AI-in-the-Childrens-Hearings-System-full-report.pdf
• AI in the family justice system – 2026: https://www.nuffieldfjo.org.uk/resource/ai-in-the-family-justice-system-2026

 

 

Download the webinar transcript

Download the slides from Dr Annie Taylor and Jennie Laurenson, SCRA

Download the slides from Dr Ellie Ott, NFJO

 

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