What CAFCASS does and what to expect when they contact you
CAFCASS gets involved in most child arrangements cases. Here is what they actually do, what they are looking for, and how to prepare.
If you are involved in family court proceedings over child arrangements, CAFCASS will almost certainly contact you. For most parents, this is one of the more anxious moments in the process, partly because they are not sure what CAFCASS is, what it is looking for, or what happens with the information it collects.
This is a plain explanation of what CAFCASS does, how it works, and what you should know before you speak to them.
What CAFCASS is
CAFCASS stands for Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service. It is an independent organisation that works within the family justice system in England and Wales. It is not part of social services, and it is not the police. Its role is specifically to advise the family court on what arrangements are in the best interests of the child.
Scotland and Northern Ireland have equivalent services under different names. CAFCASS Cymru covers Wales under the same general framework as CAFCASS in England. If your case is in the US, the court may appoint a Guardian ad Litem or a similar independent representative to perform a broadly comparable function, though the structure differs by state.
When CAFCASS gets involved
In England and Wales, once an application for a child arrangements order is made, the court automatically notifies CAFCASS. This happens before the first hearing. You do not need to request it, and neither parent can opt out of it.
CAFCASS then carries out what is called a safeguarding check. This involves basic enquiries with police and children’s services to identify any recorded concerns about either parent or the child. It also involves a phone call with each parent separately, usually in the weeks before the first hearing.
The safeguarding phone call
This call is often the first direct contact parents have with CAFCASS, and it is the one that causes the most anxiety.
The officer will introduce themselves and explain the purpose of the call. They will ask you about the background to the case, your concerns about the child’s welfare, any history of domestic abuse or other safeguarding issues, and your view of the current arrangements.
A few things worth knowing:
It is not an interrogation. The officer is trying to build a picture, not catch you out. Speak plainly and focus on your child’s situation.
Be factual, not emotional. This is not the moment to list everything the other parent has ever done wrong. Officers are experienced at distinguishing between genuine welfare concerns and relationship conflict. Leading with your child’s needs rather than the other parent’s failings tends to come across better.
Concerns about safety should be raised here. If there is a history of domestic abuse, substance misuse, or any other issue that directly affects your child’s safety, this is the appropriate place to raise it clearly. Do not assume the officer already knows.
The call is not confidential between you and CAFCASS. What you say will inform their report to the court. Speak as if the other parent and the judge will read it, because effectively they will.
What happens after the call
CAFCASS compiles a brief safeguarding letter for the court ahead of the first hearing. This summarises the checks carried out and any concerns identified. It is not a detailed report at this stage, just an initial picture.
At the first hearing, the CAFCASS officer presents this summary. The judge will consider it alongside what both parents say in the room.
If the case is more complex, or if safeguarding concerns are raised, the court may ask CAFCASS to carry out a fuller investigation. This is called a Section 7 report.
What a Section 7 report involves
A Section 7 report is a more detailed assessment, ordered by the court when it needs a fuller picture before making decisions about a child’s arrangements.
Preparing a Section 7 report typically involves:
- Further interviews with both parents
- A meeting with the child, if they are old enough and it is appropriate
- Visits to one or both homes
- Checks with schools, health visitors, or other professionals involved with the child
- Review of any relevant records
The process usually takes around twelve weeks, though this varies. At the end of it, the CAFCASS officer produces a written report with recommendations for the court.
Those recommendations carry significant weight. Judges do not always follow them, but departing from a CAFCASS recommendation requires clear reasons. If the report recommends a particular arrangement, that is a serious factor in the outcome of the case.
What CAFCASS is actually assessing
Understanding what CAFCASS is looking for helps you approach every interaction with them more clearly.
The central question is always the welfare of the child. CAFCASS officers use what is called the welfare checklist, set out in the Children Act 1989, as their framework. This includes factors such as:
- The child’s wishes and feelings, given their age and understanding
- The child’s physical, emotional, and educational needs
- The likely effect of any change in circumstances
- Any harm the child has suffered or is at risk of suffering
- The capability of each parent to meet the child’s needs
What CAFCASS is not primarily assessing is which parent is the more sympathetic figure, who has been wronged in the relationship, or who makes the more compelling argument. Those considerations are largely irrelevant. The question is what the child needs, and which arrangements best provide it.
How to approach your interactions with CAFCASS
The parents who come across well to CAFCASS officers tend to share a few things in common. They focus on their child rather than their grievances. They can speak specifically about their child’s routine, relationships, and needs. They acknowledge complexity where it exists, rather than presenting a one-sided picture. And they demonstrate that they have thought about the impact of the situation on their child, not just on themselves.
Having a clear, factual account of what has happened, and when, also matters. If contact arrangements have broken down, if there have been incidents at handovers, or if there is a pattern of behaviour that is relevant to your child’s welfare, being able to describe it accurately and specifically is more useful than a general account of how difficult things have been.
Dates, times, and specifics. Not feelings about what happened, but what actually happened.
One thing CAFCASS cannot do
CAFCASS advises the court. It does not make decisions. The judge decides. If you disagree with what a CAFCASS officer has written in a report, you can challenge it through your legal representative at the hearing. Reports can be questioned, and recommendations can be argued against.
This matters because some parents treat a CAFCASS recommendation as the end of the road. It is not. It is one significant input into a process that continues until the court makes a final order.
Speak to a qualified family solicitor before your CAFCASS contact if you can, even briefly. The above is general information only and does not constitute legal advice.