Cafcass stands for Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service. It is a part of the Government’s commitment to supporting families and children representing the interests of children and young people in family court cases in England. Cafcass is sponsored by the Ministry of Justice and is a non-departmental public body.
Cafcass employs experienced Family Court Advisers and Guardians who may be asked by the court to work with families and then advise the court on what they consider to be the best interests of the children and young people involved. They work in three main areas:
- Divorce and separation. Often called ‘private law’. It is where parents or carers cannot agree on arrangements for their children.
- Care proceedings. Often called ‘public law’. It is where the local authority has serious concerns about the safety or welfare of a child.
- Adoption, which can be either public or private law.
The role of Cafcass in private law proceedings is to provide a Family Court Adviser (FCA) to independently advise the family courts in England about the arrangements that are most likely to be in the children’s best interests and which promote their safety and wellbeing.
Public law proceedings include an application by social services for a supervision order or a care order for your child as well as applications for a child to be placed for adoption. A Cafcass officer will be appointed by the court to act as a Children’s Guardian in the court case. The Guardian will arrange for the child to have their own solicitor and will provide the court with independent expert advice on the plan for the child and what is in their best interests. They make sure that the wishes and feelings of the child are understood by the court before it makes a final decision about what is in their best interests.
Cafcass have developed Our Child’s Plan as an interactive tool to help you, and your co-parent agree on arrangements for your child.
(If you or someone you know has a welfare or safeguarding concern about a child, they should report it to Kent County Council Children’s Services)
Cafcass are always more than happy to speak to you and to give advice, their involvement is to engage with you through family law proceedings.
Lines are open during office hours on Monday to Thursday from 9 am to 5 pm and on Friday from 9am to 4:30pm, excluding bank holidays. You can visit the contact us section on their website to find telephone numbers and other ways to make contact.