Important – Cafcass Is Not One UK-Wide Organisation
The organisation officially styled Cafcass – the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service – operates in England.
Different arrangements apply elsewhere in the UK:
- Wales: Cafcass Cymru
- Scotland: there is no direct Cafcass equivalent; courts may appoint Child Welfare Reporters
- Northern Ireland: Children's Court Guardian Agency for Northern Ireland
The detailed private-law safeguarding-letter and Section 7 process described in most of this guide relates mainly to England.
What is CAFCASS?
Cafcass stands for the:
Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service.
It is an independent organisation in England that:
- Represents or helps provide representation for children in family court cases where required
- Advises family courts on children’s welfare
- Helps judges decide what is in a child’s best interests
- Works with children and families during court proceedings
Important Distinction
A child is not automatically a party to an ordinary private-law child arrangements case.
In private-law proceedings, Cafcass usually works through a Family Court Adviser.
In public-law care proceedings, the child will normally have a Children's Guardian who represents their interests and appoints a solicitor for the child.
Cafcass's Statutory Functions
Cafcass was established under the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000.
Its principal functions include:
- Safeguarding and promoting children's welfare
- Giving advice to family courts
- Making provision for children to be represented
- Providing information, advice and support to children and families
However, it works closely with both and operates under legislation, Family Procedure Rules and court directions.
1 What Does CAFCASS Do?
CAFCASS helps family courts make decisions about:
- Child arrangements
- Where children should live
- Time children should spend with parents or carers
- Safety concerns
- Domestic abuse allegations
- Care proceedings
- Adoption
- Public law proceedings
Their main duty is:
Cafcass Advises – The Court Decides
A Cafcass officer can make recommendations.
Those recommendations can be influential, but Cafcass does not make the final court order.
The judge or magistrates decide the case after considering all of the evidence.
2 Types of Cases CAFCASS Handles
Private Law Cases
Usually disputes between parents or carers, such as:
- Child arrangements
- Contact disputes
- Relocation
- Specific Issue Orders
- Prohibited Steps Orders
- Enforcement of Child Arrangements Orders
Examples:
- Divorce/separation disputes
- One parent stopping contact
- School disagreements
- Disagreements about where a child should live
Public Law Cases
Cases involving local authorities/social services.
Examples:
- Care orders
- Supervision orders
- Applications to discharge care or supervision orders
- Placement orders
- Adoption proceedings
- Child protection concerns
- Secure accommodation and some deprivation-of-liberty proceedings
3 Role of a CAFCASS Officer
A CAFCASS officer may be called:
- Family Court Adviser – FCA
- Children’s Guardian
- Reporting Officer in some adoption cases
- Child and Family Reporter in some adoption work
Family Court Adviser
Usually the role Cafcass uses in private-law proceedings.
An FCA may:
- Speak with parents
- Speak with children where further assessment is required
- Review safeguarding information
- Prepare reports
- Advise the court
Children's Guardian
Common in public-law proceedings and certain complex private-law cases.
The Guardian:
- Represents the child's interests
- Works directly with the child
- Scrutinises local-authority plans
- Appoints a solicitor for the child
- Reports independently to the court
The same Cafcass professional may be a qualified social worker, but their legal role depends on how the court has appointed them.
4 What Happens After a Court Application?
Cafcass receives the application from the court and begins initial safeguarding enquiries.
In most ordinary private-law cases Cafcass contacts each party separately to discuss safety and safeguarding concerns.
Cafcass provides the court with the outcome of the checks and initial safeguarding advice.
A Family Court Adviser may assist the court and advise on next steps.
The court may order a Section 7 report, local-authority assessment, fact-finding hearing, risk assessment or another direction.
Step 1 – Safeguarding Checks
Before many first hearings involving a Child Arrangements Order, Cafcass carries out safeguarding enquiries.
These normally include:
- Police checks on the parties
- Checks with relevant local-authority children's services
- Review of the C100 application
- Review of C1A allegations of harm where filed
- Safeguarding telephone interviews with the parties where possible
Cafcass Normally Does Not Interview the Child Before the FHDRA
Under the ordinary Child Arrangements Programme, Cafcass's pre-FHDRA work is focused on safety.
At this stage:
- Cafcass normally speaks to the adult parties
- The child is not normally interviewed or met
- A home visit is unlikely before the first hearing
Direct work with the child normally happens later where further assessment is ordered.
Step 2 – Safeguarding Telephone Interview
You may receive a Cafcass welcome letter giving the date and time of your telephone interview.
The discussion may cover:
- Domestic abuse
- Child safety
- Risk of harm
- Substance misuse where relevant
- Parenting concerns
- Mental-health issues where they affect safety or parenting
- Police or social-care involvement
- Current arrangements for the child
How Long Does the Call Take?
Cafcass currently advises parents to allow up to approximately 45 minutes, although the call may be shorter.
Be:
- Calm
- Honest
- Child-focused
- Specific about important dates
- Clear about safeguarding concerns
- Clear about what you believe would help the child
Step 3 – The Safeguarding Letter
The safeguarding letter is a short report to the Family Court.
It may include:
- The child's current arrangements
- Police safeguarding-check information
- Local-authority safeguarding information
- Issues raised by each party
- Analysis of risk
- Cafcass's advice about the next step
Official Timescale
Under the ordinary Child Arrangements Programme, Cafcass should normally provide the safeguarding letter:
within 17 working days of receiving the application
and:
at least 3 working days before the first hearing.
If Cafcass Suspects the Child Is at Risk of Harm
Cafcass may be required to prepare a formal risk assessment under:
Section 16A Children Act 1989.
Cafcass states that where an FCA is concerned about the child's safety, they must also make a referral to local-authority children's social care.
Children Act 1989 – Section 16AThe safeguarding letter is a confidential Family Court document. Do not assume it can be published or shared publicly.
Step 4 – First Hearing (FHDRA)
The first court hearing is often called:
FHDRA – First Hearing Dispute Resolution Appointment.
CAFCASS may:
- Attend or be available to the court
- Discuss safeguarding concerns
- Assist with safe agreement where appropriate
- Suggest further assessment
- Recommend interim arrangements
- Recommend a Section 7 report
- Recommend a fact-finding hearing where necessary
Safeguarding Information Should Be Available
Practice Direction 12B says that where safeguarding checks are not available and there is no other reliable safeguarding information, the court should normally adjourn rather than make substantive interim arrangements, except where an order is needed to protect a child's safety.
Step 5 – Section 7 Report
The court may order:
A Section 7 report.
A Section 7 report is a welfare report made under:
Section 7 Children Act 1989.
It may be prepared by:
- Cafcass
- A local authority
The court should specify the particular welfare issues it wants the report to address.
The report may include:
- Child’s wishes and feelings
- Parenting assessment
- Welfare concerns
- Risk of harm
- Current living arrangements
- Relationships with parents and other important family members
- Information from schools or professionals where relevant
- Recommendations
The court often gives significant weight to Section 7 reports, but:
5 The Welfare Checklist
Judges and CAFCASS use the Children Act welfare framework when considering what is in the child's best interests.
The statutory welfare checklist includes:
- The child’s ascertainable wishes and feelings, considered in light of age and understanding
- Physical, emotional and educational needs
- The likely effect of any change in circumstances
- Age, sex, background and other relevant characteristics
- Any harm suffered or risk of suffering harm
- How capable each parent or other relevant person is of meeting the child's needs
- The range of powers available to the court
when determining questions concerning the upbringing of a child under the relevant Children Act proceedings.
6 Child Wishes and Feelings
CAFCASS officers may:
- Speak privately with children
- Ask children about feelings and wishes
- Use age-appropriate tools
- Invite children to write or draw
- Explain recommendations to children
Children's Wishes Matter – But Children Do Not Have to Choose
A child should not be placed under pressure to decide between parents.
Their wishes and feelings are one part of the wider welfare assessment. The weight given to those views depends on matters including:
- Age
- Understanding
- Maturity
- Individual circumstances
- Safety and welfare
A Child's Wishes Are Not Automatically the Final Outcome
The court may make an order different from what the child says they want if the court considers another outcome is required to protect their welfare.
7 Domestic Abuse and Safeguarding
CAFCASS assesses issues including:
- Physical abuse
- Emotional abuse
- Coercive and controlling behaviour
- Domestic abuse
- Harmful parental conflict
- Child refusal or resistance to spending time with a parent
- Parenting issues affecting safe care
Child Impact Assessment Framework – CIAF
Cafcass's Child Impact Assessment Framework brings together practice guidance covering four broad areas:
- Domestic abuse
- Harmful parental conflict
- Adult behaviours associated with a child's refusal or resistance to spending time with another parent or important family member
- Parenting issues such as substance misuse or unresolved mental-health difficulties where these affect safe parenting
Domestic Abuse and Parental Conflict Are Not the Same Thing
Cafcass should distinguish harmful parental conflict from domestic abuse, including coercive control.
Where domestic abuse is alleged or established, the Family Court must also apply:
Practice Direction 12J.
Important 2026 Change – Child Focused Courts
On 17 March 2026, the Government announced that the private-law reform model previously known as Pathfinder would be renamed:
Child Focused Courts
and rolled out across England and Wales.
The national implementation is planned over several years, with Cafcass stating that full implementation across English court areas is intended by March 2029.
What Is Different?
The model is intended to provide:
- Earlier identification of safeguarding risks
- Earlier engagement with children
- More information gathering at the beginning of the case
- Closer working between courts, police, local authorities and Cafcass
- Fewer unnecessary hearings
- Stronger focus on domestic abuse and risk of harm
As of August 2026, established Child Focused Court areas include, among others:
- Birmingham and Solihull
- Dorset / Bournemouth / Weymouth
- West Yorkshire
- Wolverhampton
- Stoke
- Worcester
- Hampshire
- Isle of Wight
Other areas are being added as the national rollout continues.
Child Impact Reports
Under the Child Focused Court model, a Child Impact Report may be prepared.
The 2026 Family Procedure Rules update confirms that the Child Impact Report can cover the same ground as a Section 7 report under the pilot/reform procedure.
8 Preparing for a CAFCASS Interview
Good Practice
- Stay child-focused
- Avoid unnecessary personal attacks on the other parent
- Be factual
- Use dates where important
- Provide evidence where appropriate
- Explain concerns calmly
- Explain how events affect the child
- Show willingness to cooperate safely
- Separate facts from assumptions
A Useful Way to Explain a Concern
Try to identify:
- What happened?
- When did it happen?
- What evidence exists?
- How did it affect the child?
- What do you believe would make the child safer or more settled?
You Do Not Need to Agree With the Other Parent
Being child-focused does not mean ignoring safeguarding concerns.
Serious concerns should be explained clearly and factually.
Courts and Cafcass focus heavily on:
- Child welfare
- Stability
- Safe cooperation
- Safety
- Emotional wellbeing
Communication Needs & Adjustments
If you have communication, disability, literacy, language or accessibility needs that affect how you communicate with Cafcass, tell them as early as possible.
Helpful requests can include:
- Written information where possible
- Additional time to understand questions
- Clear, direct language
- Interpreter arrangements
- Accessible documents
- Information about meetings in advance where possible
You can explain what helps you communicate accurately. The important point is to make the FCA aware of your needs rather than struggling through an assessment without appropriate support.
9 Common CAFCASS Reports & Documents
Safeguarding Letter
Initial private-law safeguarding summary containing police and local-authority checks, issues raised by the parties and initial advice.
Section 7 Report
More detailed welfare assessment ordered under Section 7 of the Children Act 1989.
Child Impact Report
Used within Child Focused Court / reform processes and in some Cafcass material to provide child-focused analysis.
Rule 16.4 Guardian Report
Where a child is made a party in complex private-law proceedings, a Children's Guardian may report to court.
Section 16A Risk Assessment
Required where a Cafcass officer suspects a child is at risk of harm.
Section 37 Report
A report by a local authority when the Family Court directs it to investigate a child's circumstances under Section 37 Children Act 1989.
Position / Update Advice
Cafcass may also provide shorter written or oral advice or updates depending on what the court directs.
“Position statement” is not a single universal Cafcass report category in the same way as a Section 7 report.
Rule 16.4 – When the Child Becomes a Party
In an ordinary private-law case, the child is not usually a formal party to the proceedings.
In particularly difficult or complex cases, the Family Court may decide that the child should become a party.
This is commonly referred to as:
Rule 16.4.
The Court May Consider This Where:
- The child has interests or a position that cannot properly be represented by the adult parties
- The child's wishes and feelings cannot adequately be dealt with through an ordinary report
- There are unusually complex medical or mental-health issues
- There are complex international issues
- The child needs separate legal representation
If appointed, the Children's Guardian appoints a solicitor for the child.
The Guardian's role is to represent the child's interests in the case, not to provide general social-work intervention to the family.
The Children's Guardian in Care Proceedings
In public-law proceedings involving care or supervision applications, the court normally appoints a Cafcass Children's Guardian.
The Guardian may:
- Meet and work with the child
- Understand the child's wishes and feelings
- Speak with the child's parents
- Speak with social workers
- Speak with foster carers
- Speak with schools and health professionals
- Review local-authority assessments
- Scrutinise the proposed care plan
- Appoint a solicitor for the child
- Provide independent recommendations to the court
The Guardian Is Independent of the Local Authority
The Guardian's role is not simply to repeat the local authority's case.
They independently assess what they believe is in the child's best interests and advise the Family Court.
10 If You Disagree With a CAFCASS Report
You can:
- Challenge factual inaccuracies
- Submit relevant evidence to the court
- Ask for clarification
- Ask for factual corrections
- Explain your disagreement in a position statement or witness evidence where permitted
- Ask the court to consider your objections
- Ask that the Cafcass officer attend the hearing where questioning is necessary and the court considers it appropriate
Factual Error vs Professional Disagreement
These are different.
An example of a factual error could be:
- Wrong date
- Wrong name
- Incorrect date of birth
- Incorrectly recorded factual event
Cafcass says factual inaccuracies should be raised with the FCA who wrote the report or their manager.
A Complaint Cannot Replace the Court Process
If your disagreement concerns:
- The FCA's analysis
- The weight they gave evidence
- The recommendation
- The professional assessment
the dispute generally needs to be raised with the Family Court.
Cafcass's complaints process does not overturn recommendations or court orders.
You May Need:
- A solicitor
- A barrister
- A McKenzie Friend for support
- Independent legal advice
11 Complaints About CAFCASS
Official complaints process:
CAFCASS Complaints ProcedureYou Can Complain About Issues Such As:
- Professional conduct
- Delays
- Communication
- Administrative mistakes
- Factual inaccuracies
- Failure to follow Cafcass policy or standards
- Personal-information handling
- Failure to respond appropriately to safeguarding issues
- Unprofessional behaviour
You Generally Cannot Use the Complaint Process To:
- Overturn a Cafcass recommendation
- Challenge the merits of a professional assessment instead of doing so in court
- Challenge a judge's decision
- Change a Family Court order
Current Cafcass Complaint Timescales
Cafcass states that it aims to:
- Acknowledge a complaint within 2 working days
- Attempt early resolution within around 1 week where appropriate
- Complete a fuller investigation within around 20 working days where a closer investigation is required
If there is a delay, Cafcass says it should keep the complainant informed.
Who Can You Escalate a Service Complaint To?
At the end of Cafcass's complaints process, Cafcass should explain how a qualifying complaint can be referred to the:
Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman – PHSO.
Accessing Your Cafcass Records
Cafcass holds information about families and court work.
You may be able to request personal information Cafcass holds about you through a:
Subject Access Request – SAR.
A SAR may help you obtain personal information held about you, subject to legal exemptions and third-party privacy rights.
Family Court confidentiality rules still apply to court material.
12 CAFCASS Contact Information
Main Telephone
0300 456 4000
Current published opening times:
- Monday–Thursday: 9am–5pm
- Friday: 9am–4:30pm
- Excluding bank holidays
For people aged 16 or over:
07798 926 698
SMS
Cafcass currently lists:
07488 881 600
Children & Young People Feedback
Hear to Listen:
0808 175 3333
Postal Address
Cafcass currently asks general post to be sent to:
Cafcass Post
PO Box 5076
Slough
SL1 0RX
Do Not Use Cafcass as an Emergency Safeguarding Service
If you believe a child is at immediate risk of harm:
Call 999.
For safeguarding concerns that are not an immediate emergency, contact the children's social-care service for the local authority where the child lives.
GOV.UK – Report Child Abuse13 Important Related Services
Family Mediation Council
Information about accredited family mediation.
Family Mediation CouncilCitizens Advice
General family, court and legal information.
Citizens AdviceRights of Women
Legal information and advice for women.
Rights of WomenFamilies Need Fathers
Support and information concerning separated parenting.
Families Need FathersGingerbread
Support for single-parent families.
GingerbreadNSPCC
Child safeguarding information and support.
NSPCCCafcass & Equivalent Services Across the UK
England – Cafcass
The Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service advises Family Courts in England.
Cafcass EnglandWales – Cafcass Cymru
Cafcass Cymru provides expert child-focused advice and support, safeguards children and helps make children's voices heard in Family Courts across Wales.
It becomes involved when required by the court.
Cafcass CymruScotland – Child Welfare Reporters
Scotland does not have a direct equivalent of Cafcass.
In disputes about a child's upbringing, a Scottish court may appoint a Child Welfare Reporter to obtain the child's views or carry out enquiries and prepare a report.
Scottish Child Welfare ReportsNorthern Ireland – Children's Court Guardian Agency
The Children's Court Guardian Agency for Northern Ireland provides independent Children's Court Guardians in relevant public-law and adoption proceedings.
It was previously known as the Northern Ireland Guardian Ad Litem Agency.
Children's Court Guardian Agency NI14 Key Things to Remember
- CAFCASS works for the child’s welfare, not either parent.
- Cafcass advises the court – the judge makes the final decision.
- Judges may give significant weight to Cafcass recommendations, but they are not automatically binding.
- Being child-focused is critical.
- Evidence and specific facts are generally more useful than broad accusations.
- Safe cooperation is relevant, but cooperation does not require you to ignore genuine safeguarding concerns.
- The child’s voice may influence decisions depending on age, understanding and circumstances.
- Before an ordinary FHDRA, Cafcass normally carries out police and local-authority checks and speaks to the adult parties.
- The child is normally not interviewed before the FHDRA under the ordinary Child Arrangements Programme.
- A Section 7 report can involve direct work with the child.
- The court can make a child a party and appoint a Rule 16.4 Guardian in appropriate complex private-law cases.
- In public-law care proceedings, Cafcass normally acts through a Children's Guardian.
- A Cafcass report is evidence. It is not the judgment.
- Factual mistakes should be raised promptly with the FCA or manager.
- Challenges to analysis and recommendations normally need to be made through the Family Court.
- A complaint cannot overturn a court order.
- If a Cafcass officer suspects a child is at risk of harm, a Section 16A risk assessment may be required.
- Private-law procedure is changing through the national rollout of Child Focused Courts.
- Cafcass is England only; Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have different arrangements.
CAFCASS Meeting Checklist
Before speaking to Cafcass, consider preparing:
- Your court case number
- The current Child Arrangements Order if one exists
- A short chronology of important events
- Important safeguarding dates
- Police reference numbers where relevant
- Relevant social-care involvement
- School or medical evidence where genuinely relevant
- A clear explanation of the child's current arrangements
- The arrangements you are asking the court to consider
- Reasons those arrangements are in the child's interests
Do Not Send Huge Evidence Bundles to Cafcass Without Being Asked
If you have evidence relevant to the court case, make sure you comply with court directions about evidence and filing.
Cafcass itself says that statements from people who are not parties to the application should be sent to the court, not simply sent to Cafcass.
If You Think the Report Is Wrong – Practical Approach
Separate factual mistakes from opinions or recommendations.
Do not simply say the whole report is wrong.
Give the correct fact.
For example a court order, message, official record or other document.
Link it to the welfare assessment or recommendation.
Where appropriate, also raise them with the FCA's manager.
Make sure the judge knows which recommendations you dispute and why.
Final Message
CAFCASS aims to ensure:
“Decisions are taken in children’s best interests.”
Its role is to safeguard children, understand their experiences, make their voices heard and provide independent advice to the Family Court.
Parents can help the process by being:
Factual • Child-Focused • Evidence-Based • Calm • Clear About Safety
And remember:
Cafcass recommends. The Family Court decides.
Right First Time UK
This Right First Time UK page provides general public information and signposting. It is not individual legal advice.
Cafcass operates in England. Cafcass Cymru operates in Wales. Scotland does not have a direct Cafcass equivalent, while Northern Ireland has the Children's Court Guardian Agency for Northern Ireland.
The ordinary safeguarding-letter and FHDRA process described on this page reflects the Child Arrangements Programme used in many private-law cases in England.
Private-law procedure is currently changing through the Child Focused Court reforms. Processes may therefore differ depending on where the court case is being heard and when the application was issued.
A Cafcass recommendation is evidence and professional advice to the Family Court. It is not itself a court order.
A complaint to Cafcass cannot overturn a judicial decision or replace the proper court process for challenging a Cafcass assessment or recommendation.
Where a report contains factual inaccuracies, Cafcass advises parties to raise these with the FCA who wrote the report or their manager.
Where the disagreement concerns the professional assessment or recommendation, the issue normally needs to be raised in the Family Court proceedings.
If a child is at immediate risk of harm, call 999 rather than relying on ordinary Cafcass correspondence.
Family Procedure Rules, Cafcass procedures and the Child Focused Court rollout can change. Always check the linked official sources.
Page checked: 28 August 2026.