CAFCASS stands for Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service. They are an independent organisation that works with children and families involved in family court proceedings. If your case involves children, you will almost certainly encounter CAFCASS.
What does CAFCASS do?
CAFCASS's role is to advise the court on what is in the best interests of the children involved in proceedings. They are independent of both parents and independent of the court, their job is to be the voice of the child.
The CAFCASS safeguarding check
When an application involving children is made to court, CAFCASS carries out initial safeguarding checks on both parents, checking police and social services records. This happens before the first hearing and the results are reported to the court.
Section 7 reports
The court may ask CAFCASS to prepare a more detailed report, known as a Section 7 report, where there are welfare concerns or complex issues. This involves interviews with both parents and the children, and results in recommendations to the court.
What to expect from a CAFCASS officer
CAFCASS officers are not on either parent's side. Be honest with them, focus on the children's needs and avoid using your time with them to criticise the other parent. They are experienced at identifying when adult conflict is being presented as child welfare concerns.