What Cafcass does

Cafcass is the part of the system that worries people the most, usually because nobody tells them what it actually is. Here’s the short version. Cafcass (the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service, or Cafcass Cymru in Wales) is independent of the court and of both parents. Their job is to advise the court on what is best for the children. They are not on your side, and they are not on the other parent’s side. They are on the children’s side, and if you keep that in mind you will deal with them well.

The person you will deal with

Your case is assigned a Family Court Adviser (FCA), a qualified social worker. They do the safeguarding checks, speak to the children where it is appropriate, write any reports, and give the court their recommendation.

The safeguarding checks

Early on, the FCA does basic checks: police and local authority records, and a short phone call with each parent. This produces the safeguarding letter that goes to the court before the first hearing. It is a quick risk check, not a full investigation, and not the moment to argue your whole case. Be calm, be honest, and keep it about the children.

The welfare report (section 7)

If the court needs more, it orders a section 7 report. This is the big one. The FCA (or a local authority social worker) looks into the children’s welfare and reports back, usually with a recommendation on where the children live and the time they spend with each parent. They will typically look at:

the children’s wishes and feelings, depending on their age and understanding;
how well each parent can meet the children’s needs;
any risks, and the wider background.

They may speak to the children, both parents, and people like teachers and GPs.

How a child’s wishes are gathered

The FCA spends time with the children in an age-appropriate way to understand how they feel. Older children’s views carry more weight, but a child’s wishes are never automatically the deciding factor. The court weighs them alongside everything else. This is also why pushing a child to “choose” you is so damaging, and so obvious to a trained social worker.

How to deal with Cafcass well

This is within your control, so use it.

Be calm and child-focused in every conversation. Talk about the children’s needs, not your grievances about the other parent.
Do not bad-mouth the other parent. It rarely lands the way people hope, and it makes you look like part of the problem.
Be honest, including about the hard bits. They will find out, and credibility matters.
Show, do not tell. “I do the school run on Tuesdays and we read together at bedtime” beats “I am a great dad.”

Sorting it out without all this

Cafcass also runs Planning Together for Children, a parenting programme that separated parents are often asked to do, with online learning and a workshop on putting the children first. They also offer a free parenting plan tool on their website that you can use to agree arrangements without going to court at all. If you can get there, that is a far better place to be.

Where to get real help

Cafcass: what they do, the reports, and their parenting resources (England).
Cafcass Cymru: the equivalent service in Wales.
Child Law Advice (Coram): the Cafcass role explained.

Last reviewed: 15 June 2026. Check the official links above for the current process before you rely on anything here.