The East London Family Justice Board (ELFJB) Conference took place on Wednesday 8 October at the London Borough of Tower Hamlets Town Hall. TV Edwards was proud to sponsor the event for the second consecutive year.

I attended alongside colleagues from our Family Department: Deborah Piccos (who is also ELFJB Co-Chair), Fateha Ahmed, Claire Longland, Amanda Mhlanga, Sarah Inchley, Lindsay Blake, Alpa Ghelani, Sheena Vadher, Ghazel Hill, Sian Popplewell, Pernilla Finnila, and Jenny Newton.

This full-day, sold out conference which focused on the theme: “Young People: Improving Outcomes in Family Justice”. It brought together a broad range of professionals—including social workers, children’s guardians, family lawyers (public and private law), and judges—to share knowledge, foster collaboration, and inspire meaningful change for children and young people.

We were honoured by the presence of Sir Andrew McFarlane, President of the Family Division, who delivered a powerful address. Other distinguished speakers included keynote speaker Sophie Humphreys OBE, with the day chaired by Her Honour Judge Atkinson, Designated Family Judge for East London.

The conference offered thought-provoking insights, emerging research, and practical strategies aimed at improving outcomes for young people involved in the family justice system.

Opening Remarks

HHJ Atkinson and Steve Reddy, Director of Children’s Services at Tower Hamlets, opened the event with inspirational remarks about the importance of the work carried out by professionals across the family justice system to improve the lives of children and families.

Foreign Children in a Foreign Land – Dignified, Welfare Decision-Making

Mr Justice MacDonald chaired this important discussion featuring HHJ Bugg, Dr Helen Connolly, Eniola Onigbano, and Imogen Spencer. The panel explored the unique challenges migrant children face within the justice and social care systems.

A central takeaway: professionals must listen to children and ensure their voices are genuinely heard in all decisions affecting them.

Sir Andrew McFarlane – Reflections and Professional Conduct

Sir Andrew McFarlane addressed the audience with a candid and reflective speech marking nearly eight years as President of the Family Division. He confirmed his intention to retire in Easter 2026 and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to contribute to reforming the family justice system.

He also addressed recent reports on professional conduct, urging continued respect and civility among professionals. He reminded attendees that upholding standards and treating one another with respect must remain a shared commitment—something that aligns closely with TV Edwards’ core values.

Gens A to Z in Relationships: Trauma, Recovery, and Understanding

Chaired by Independent Social Worker Matthew Jerry, this panel included Dr Ruth Weir (City, University of London), Eimear Timmons (The Lighthouse), Shikisha Husbands (London Borough of Redbridge), and Eythan Bell (Be Heard As One).

Topics included:

• Trauma-informed practice and supporting children recovering from sexual abuse.
• Online harms and the growing concerns around social media.
• Domestic abuse in teenage relationships, and the risks of adultifying minors.

Drug Testing in the Family Courts – Ensuring Fairness

David Nicholson from DNA Legal, addressed concerns about racial bias in drug testing. He explained that although drug tests themselves are not inherently racist, hair colour can affect results, with those who have darker hair sometimes testing positive above thresholds while others do not, despite identical exposure. He outlined DNA Legal’s 20-year mission to improve testing accuracy and reduce bias.

Adolescence: Attachment, Brain Development, and Risk

This session, chaired by Deborah Piccos (Consultant Solicitor at TV Edwards and ELFJB Co-Chair), featured an expert panel featuring Dr Malcolm Bourne, Dr Peter Maggs, and Dr Tammy Surgenor.

The panel explored:

• Attachment styles and their impact on development.
• How trauma affects the prefrontal cortex and executive functioning.
• Risk-taking behaviours and how they manifest as internalised (for example self-harm, eating disorders) or externalised behaviours (for example aggression).

Dr Surgenor illustrated how understanding a child’s attachment style can enable professionals to better meet their emotional and psychological needs.

Contextual Safeguarding: Challenging Exploitation, Adultification, and Criminalisation

DJ Thain chaired a compelling session with speakers Jahnine Davis (Listen Up), Dr Claire Fitzpatrick (Lancaster University), and Gursel Beckan (London Borough of Tower Hamlets).

Dr Fitzpatrick discussed her research into the over-criminalisation of girls in the justice system. Jahnine Davis delivered a powerful call to action, highlighting the adultification of Black girls and urging professionals to reflect on their own roles and silence in perpetuating harm.

Gursel Beckan from the London Bower of Tower Hamlets, and a representative from the London Borough of Redbridge shared positive developments in supporting exploited children and emphasised the importance of hearing directly from young people.

Final Thoughts

The ELFJB Conference was a resounding success—both in terms of participation and the richness of the discussions. It demonstrated a shared commitment to improving outcomes for children and young people across the family justice system.

We at TV Edwards are proud to support and be part of this important initiative, and we look forward to continuing our work in promoting the rights of children and improving outcomes for children and families.