What Cafcass does — and how to work with them when a family court decides on your child

Who this is for. If you are going through family court proceedings about your child — most often after a Form C100 child-arrangements application, but also in other children cases — you will almost certainly meet Cafcass. This guide explains what Cafcass actually is, the safeguarding checks that happen after you apply, the role of the Family Court Adviser (FCA), how they talk to you and to your child, what a Section 7 welfare report is, and how to prepare. It is written in plain English for people representing themselves, it is not legal advice, and it does not take sides.

Reviewed by Sean McNamara on 2026-10-21

What Cafcass is and what it does

Cafcass stands for the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service. It is the independent body that advises the family courts in England about the welfare of children and what is in their best interests.

Cafcass is involved in two broad kinds of family law:

Private law — disputes between parents (or family members) about where a child lives and who they spend time with, usually started by a Form C100 application for a child-arrangements order or another Section 8 order.
Public law — cases where a local authority (children's services) is concerned about a child's welfare and applies to court, for example for a care or supervision order.

In both, Cafcass's job is the same in essence: safeguard and promote the child's welfare and independently advise the court about what arrangements are in the child's best interests — focusing on the child's needs, wishes and feelings. Cafcass is not part of the court, not part of the local authority, and not on anyone's side. It does not make the final decision; the judge or magistrates do. What Cafcass provides is information and advice that helps the court decide.

The key thing to understand: Cafcass is independent and its focus is the child's welfare. Its reports carry real weight, so it is worth treating the process seriously and co-operating with it.

What happens after you apply — the safeguarding checks and letter

After a C100 (or similar) application is made, before the first hearing (the FHDRA), Cafcass carries out safeguarding checks. These are the agency's first look at whether there are any risks to the child.

Cafcass runs checks with the police and with the local authority children's services for anyone involved.
A Cafcass officer — the Family Court Adviser (FCA) — telephones each parent separately (the call usually lasts up to about 30–45 minutes) to hear about the child's current arrangements and any safety concerns. It is important that you speak to them so they can give the court the clearest picture.
The FCA then writes a Safeguarding Letter to the court. It sets out the current arrangements for the children (where they live, time spent with family members), the results of the police and local-authority checks, what was discussed in the telephone interviews, and the FCA's analysis and advice on whether there are any welfare concerns or risk of harm. In most circumstances you will receive a copy of the letter.
If the FCA is concerned about a child's safety, they are required to write a risk assessment to the court and to make a referral to the local authority's children's social care service.
If there is no need for a risk assessment, the Safeguarding Letter gives the court advice on next steps — for example that there is nothing more needed, that a further Section 7 assessment would help, or that the case can go straight to a final hearing.

The Safeguarding Letter does not decide who is "right" or "wrong". It flags safeguarding issues for the court to consider, and it does not mean an allegation is taken as true. The court weighs the issues and decides what is in the child's best interests.

The Family Court Adviser (FCA)

Your Family Court Adviser is a qualified social worker employed by Cafcass who is allocated to your child's case. Their role is to:

carry out (or support) the safeguarding work;
if the court asks, carry out a fuller welfare assessment and write a report; and
advise the court about what is in the child's best interests.

The FCA can answer your questions about the process, but they cannot give you legal advice — that is what a solicitor is for.

How the FCA speaks to parents and to your child

The FCA's job is to hear everyone's perspective while keeping the child's welfare at the centre.

With you (each parent): The FCA will spend time with you and with the other parent separately, to hear about your concerns about your child's welfare and about current arrangements. They will also usually start with the telephone safeguarding interviews described above.

With your child: Cafcass makes sure the child's voice is heard — their wishes and feelings — without asking the child to make the decision. How they work depends on the child's age:

The FCA will write to your child to introduce themselves.
They will usually talk to your child alone, often at a neutral venue such as the child's school.
For a baby or young child, the FCA may observe them with a parent or carer to understand their relationships, personality and needs.
The FCA may also speak to other people — family members, teachers, health workers — to build a fuller picture.

Crucially: your FCA will not ask your children to decide their arrangements or to choose between you and the other parent. Decisions rest with the court.

The FCA will usually share their thinking and recommendations with you and your child before filing the report, so your views and your child's feelings can be taken into account.

The Section 7 welfare report

If the court decides at the first hearing that a deeper assessment is needed, it may ask Cafcass (under Section 7 of the Children Act 1989) to carry out a more detailed investigation and write a welfare report advising the court on what is in the child's best interests. This is called a Section 7 report.

The FCA decides what information is needed based on the Safeguarding Letter and what the court has asked them to look into. The report may lead to recommendations, but the court makes the final decision — it will pay particular attention to your child's wishes and feelings, but may not always follow them, and it decides based on everything presented.

If you are unhappy with something in the Section 7 report or with the FCA's opinion, tell your solicitor (if you have one) and the court, so the judge can take your concerns into account.
If there are factual inaccuracies (wrong names, dates of birth, etc.), notify the FCA who wrote the report or their manager.
You cannot complain to Cafcass about the court's decision — Cafcass has no power to challenge the court's decision, and the remedy for disagreeing with the outcome is raised with the court (for example by seeking to appeal or vary an order).

How to prepare — be honest and child-focused

Cafcass's job is to give the court the truth, and they are experienced. The way to come across well is to be straightforward and to keep the focus on your child.

Be honest. Tell the truth about the situation, the child's arrangements and any concerns. Inconsistencies and exaggeration you can't evidence are noticed and can undermine your credibility. Do not invent or inflate allegations.
Be child-focused. Frame everything you say around your child's needs and interests — not your grievances with the other parent. The court's north star is the child's welfare.
Answer their questions fully but calmly. They will ask about safety, care, and day-to-day life. Speak from what you know.
Do not use your child to deliver messages. Never pass messages to the other parent through your child, question your child about the other parent, or coach them on what to say to the FCA. This puts the child in the middle and is harmful — and Cafcass will notice it. Let the FCA hear from your child directly and in their own time.
Never ask your child to take sides or to "tell the court" something on your behalf. Keep your child out of the adult conflict; it is the FCA's job, not your child's, to feed information and wishes to the court.
Co-operate and respond promptly to Cafcass requests — phone calls, letters, meetings. A missed safeguarding call can delay your case.
Prepare a short note of what you want and why it is in your child's best interests, so you are ready to speak to the FCA and at hearings.
If you believe you or your child are in immediate danger, speak up and call the police on 999 — Cafcass and the court take safeguarding seriously.

Official sources

Cafcass — what it does: cafcass.gov.uk
Cafcass safeguarding letter (Family Court Adviser gives safeguarding advice to court): cafcass.gov.uk
Cafcass Section 7 reports (court asks an FCA to write a report if the case goes beyond the first hearing): cafcass.gov.uk
Cafcass "Welcome to Cafcass" — what happens before your first hearing: cafcass.gov.uk/welcome-to-cafcass
Cafcass contact: 0300 456 4000 · Children and young people's feedback line: 0808 175 3333

This is general information, not legal advice. It is not a substitute for advice from a qualified family-law solicitor or a regulated adviser, and it does not take sides or prejudge any case. Processes and guidance change — always verify the current position on the official Cafcass and GOV.UK pages linked above before acting. If you believe you or your child are in immediate danger, call the police on 999; if you are a survivor of domestic abuse, contact Refuge (0808 2000 247) or Women's Aid. The family court decides each case on its evidence and on the best interests of the child.

YourFamilyCase is an independent, impartial information resource. We are not part of GOV.UK, HM Courts & Tribunals Service, or Cafcass, and we receive no payment or preferment from any mediator, solicitor, or agency named or linked in this guide. The information here is provided to help you understand the system; it does not replace professional legal advice.

Have a Cafcass letter or section 7 report to respond to? EvidenceCanvas is an online tool for people who represent themselves in the family court. It can help you set out your response point by point, with each point tied to the page of the report it answers. You decide what to say, and you check and finish every document yourself.

It is a paid tool with monthly plans and one-off options, and a limited free plan to try it. Check the current prices on its website before you choose a plan. It is not a law firm, it does not give legal advice and it cannot tell you how your case will turn out. If you can get legal advice or legal aid, consider that first.

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