For an agency that’s not well known, Cafcass (the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service) wields an awful lot of power. Whenever parents can’t agree over an application for a Contact Order, they become involved, compiling a report on the family, both parents and children. The document they produce carries a great deal of weight with the Family Court.
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Both Cafcass and Family Court have undergone their share of controversy, the first for some of the content of their reports and its methodology, the second for operating in relative secrecy. Cafcass presents its report as a completed document at court, and interested parties have no chance to challenge it beforehand, although they are sent copies.
Who Compiles The Cafcass Report?
The Cafcass Staff who compile the reports are known as Children and Family Reporters. It’s their job to interview both parents in the case, as well as the children, and any others who might be needed, which could mean social workers, medical professionals, or even relatives.The Reporters are social workers themselves, but their qualifications don’t go beyond that (one criticism levelled at them is that they sometimes make observations that go beyond their field of expertise, such as in the medical area).
From the interviews they conduct, the Reporter will determine two things: whether there should be contact allowed, and, if so, how much. It’s a measure of how important the Cafcass recommendation is that the court will almost invariably adhere to it.
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The building blocks of the Cafcass report are the interviews the reporters carry out. They talk to both parents, generally quite extensively, although not necessarily in a home setting, which can leave people uneasy in an unfamiliar environment.
Since the report takes around 10 weeks to compile, a number of people are interviewed, a wide range, and there are instances when the court will ask the Reporter to talk to a specific person, for instance a health visitor.
The Reporter will inform parents about the people they’ll interview, which will include the police and a check of the Child Protection Register – that’s standard, and shouldn’t alarm anyone.
Of course, they’ll also want to interview any children involved, as long as they’re old enough. Part of the responsibility of the court is to take the wishes of the children into account where possible, although that doesn’t mean that will necessarily happen. It’s vital that the Reporter remains neutral with the child and doesn’t ask him or her to take sides.
Your situation may be slightly different. ask a question below ↓ and our editorial team will reply with our advice.
Criticism of Cafcass Reports
Although most Cafcass reports are fine, there have been a number of criticisms thrown at Reporters. These can be for inappropriate remarks, or ones that are unqualified. For instance, a report might mention “domestic violence” in a relationship, without explaining what the violence is (it could, in fact, be something as trivial as sulking). There have been occasions when the Reporter has included nothing in the report about the wishes of the child, even when the child is old enough to expresses preferences and opinions. At times reports haven’t included pertinent information about the children, such as learning difficulties.
In other words, the reports aren’t perfect, and where a person finds failing in the report, there are grounds to ask for it to be disregarded – that can be entirely or just in part – or to be discredited. There have been occasions when the court has made it decision based on a bad report. When that’s happened, the bad report constitutes grounds for appeal.
Not all experiences of Cafcass are negative, many are positive and help numbers of fathers gain access to their child. Have a look at our reader story My Positive Experience of Cafcass.
I am a woman who had the misfortune of falling for a narcissist conman, someone who love bombed, made himself out to be responsible and caring before discarding when he had secured his target into position. He went on to steal, gaslight, lie to his family and friends to triangulate, use for a place to stay as required whilst being inconclusive about whether he was with his family or not...had his family lie. I had mutual friends tell me he was lying to another party who he couuldnt care less about because she was thick and didnt challenge him. This man chose benders over his commitments to see his kid. He stopped paying what his child was entitled to because he had to pay for someone else he was using for a place to stay...carried on denying it all to lead his family on until proof came out...
I found out he started lying in 2017, apparently telling some random he cared because she was easy...this us what men do...sad isnt it
Analysis of issues arising from safeguarding or risk identification
Safeguarding checks are complete.
The information currently available suggests that Ib may have been exposed to parental domestic abuse. It is alleged that Ib*** has been present and witnessed the abuse and that he has been put at risk of both emotional and physical harm himself when caught up in the middle of incidents.
Ib *** has not had any contact with his father for over a year and if what mother reports is true his last contact with his father may have been a very frightening one. Ib*** needs to have all his needs met in an emotionally warm environment free from exposure to parental domestic abuse and risk of physical and emotional harm.
The court is going to require more information to ensure that future arrangements for Ib are safe and in his best interests. The following advice is offered to the court:-
? This matter is not considered suitable for mediation or Separated Parents Information Programme.
? The court may benefit from disclosure of the assessment completed by H*** Local Authority and parties providing statements dealing with the alleged domestic abuse against mother and any against Ib***
? The court may then be in a better position to clarify whether the alleged abuse is going to be determinative and whether any fact finding is required.
? The issue of Ibraheem spending time with his father is going to require further assessment by way of a s7 report. Such a report would be completed by Cafcass but could not commence until after any fact finding has been concluded, should it be required.
? The author of the s7 report will assess whether contact is safe and appropriate and include recommendations in the report.
? Court may benefit from enhanced police checks which would provide more detail on any involvement with family.
? If available the Cafcass officer may be able to provide the court with any further assistance required
I had separation from wife last year she alleged me fordomestic abuse which is not proven
Recently I made my child contact or arrangementin court as mother was not allowing me to meet my child only allowing for supervised contact
recently Cafcass has done it safe guard with nothing alarming
My question would court allow to me to meet my child freely or there would be some limitations in meeting or prohibition?
Can child can stay with me few days like in weekend ?
Can I request courtmy child passport to held by court ?As I may doubt he would be abducted to back country ?
I m 40 , no criminal record or prosecution nor any mental problem ,, my child is 5 years old
I had separation from wife last year she alleged me for domestic abuse which is not proven
Recently I made my child contact or arrangement in court as mother was not allowing me to meet my child only allowing for supervised contact
recently Cafcass has done it safe guard with nothing alarming
My question would court allow to me to meet my child freely or there would be some limitations in meeting or prohibition ?
Can child can stay with me few days like in weekend ?
Can I request court my child passport to held by court ? As I may doubt he would be abducted to back country ?
Fortunately I was able to provide the police with a lot of material to undermine her complaint and I was not prosecuted.
At the time of our separation, our son was 9 years old and he was angry with his mum for bringing the marriage to an end.
I successfully applied to the court for a child arrangement order and was able to see my son regularly for a period of 2 years.
Sadly now my son has turned against and has stated he no longer wishes to see me
He has told the cafcass advisor untruths and stated he no longer wishes to see me.
This is a very hard pill to swallow as both myself, family and friends I've shown him a great deal of love and support.
I'm of the view that is Mum I slowly turned him against me.
Friends and family tell me to walk away and leave them to it as I could not have done any more.
Unable to do this as I am his father and I still love him daily and remember the great times we had together prior to recent events unfolding.
I I intend to address the court personally with a rational heartfelt honest statement when I attend letter this month.
I suppose what I'm asking, as any other fathers had similar experiences, what advice can they offer and will the judges listen to me
Cafcass what a joke. I found most of these Reporters have been adopted or been in care themselves - so their judgement is tainted by their own experiences or viewpoint on parents - thus many men not seeing their children.
Hopefully the British government will understand that gang violence is in majority of cases, due to a lack father's contact with their respective children.
We did an Easter egg hunt, made Easter eggs, went bowling in the afternoon but the children had miserable faces, my ex wife had kept them up all night. They were irritable and are very negative towards me (parental alienation?). Age 11.
CAFCASS recommend it is not appropriate for me to be near them. I intimidate them, bad influence and not happy.
I feel like I invited a wrecking ball into our home. We played some word games, CAFCASS officer reported I was belittling her. I had a timetable of activities, cafcass reported I was too ridgid and structured. Children bit off, thats because they are scared of me. There wasn't a single positive.
Maybe I should have just gone down to MacDonalds and sat outside smoking weed.
I love my children and 10 years of struggling to get contact (=10 years being denied it), constant broken court orders and now they've gone. Its heartbreaking.
Now I know my ex wife will want a safeguarding check done and although it's going to be fine I don't want to have to add this to the on going case
Will it have to be a cafcass one or one that can be done ourselves
I met my new partner and I started staying at hers on a weekend also so I was close so I didn’t have to travel when I had my contact anyways the children’s mother didn’t like the idea of me being with someone else and made lies up in court stating I wasn’t consistent enough and it was effecting the children’s education but a couple weeks prior I spoke to my child’s head teacher to ask how she was doing in school etc and was told she was a very hard worker very pleasant always asking for more work to do and wished they had more children like her but cause the mother told the courts that the education was falling due to my contact or my consistency and asked the courts to stop my contact.
So the clerk asked the woman from cafcass as she said that there are no safeguarding issues at all however since the children’s mother has stated that the education has fallen I would recommend that the contact should be stopped... is there anything I can do about this as my ex is a very convincing compulsive liar
His seen her few times not provide at all.
Resently I found out his not what he said he was
He told me he was 33 year old man
But his passport and birth certificate says his 44 his changed his name 3 times in 3 years.
I don’t know who this man is. He won’t tell me and now his taking me to court and telling me he will get legal right as his not on birth certificate
Is this true? Will the judge not looking into his past and ask who he is. As he said you wouldn’t.
I found out he had ccj and now his changed his name again his manged to wipe his history clear and start again! He passport says one age and his Facebook friends says his another.
I don’t know who he is
We was only together 3 months when I fell pregnant
Please help
I worried as if he can change his name get passport in different ages etc what says he won’t run off with my daughter
Please help
Will the court grant him legal rights etc
I have a court order for contact for a few hours during week, 10 hours every Sun and 1 sleepover 1st Sat every month however over the past 5 years my ex has allowed me so much more.
From August 2016 till May 2017 my children had 103 sleepovers as well as spending 4 hours with them 3 days par week.
From May until September she tried to sell family home but I was not allowed to sign it over as it was classed as an asset in my IVA so all contact was hit and miss.
I applied to have order enforced but on First hearing she filed a huge list of reasons why contact should be stopped. All lies as I have recordings of her asking kids if they want to spend 2 weeks with me from 20th August and several others asking similar.
My question
Can this recording be used as evidence to prove when it suits I can have loads of contact?
and I don't think the centre has taken
this serious either . I fell this centre is not professional in any way we have nothing but trouble from them and I don't fell my kids are safe their
My case is somehow different to many on here as it involves the mother wanting to permanetly remove our son from the UK and take him to another country. A few months ago a CAFCASS report was produced which was not fit for purpose. It was unbiased on many fronts and recommended that the mother should be given permission to take our son. I challenged the contents of the report and the way it was conducted, and my barrister put up a very good fight.
Suprisingly the Judge also outrightly agreed that the CAFCASS report was not fit for purpose and when the time come to a final hearing, the reporter must come to court and explain her self for compilling such a report and not following the courts guidlines.
Not only did the judge order a new report, CAFCASS were also taken out of the case completely and the judge ordered that a new body should carry out the new report, and that CAFCASS should not be involved in anyway whatsoever.
Not all judges will implement CAFCASS recommendations if you can argue that the report is a complete whitewash. You must never give up fighting for your son or daughter, and I know that the mothers already have an advantage simply because they are mothers, however the law has somehow changed to only reflect the best outcome for the child and not necessarily what the mother wants, so atleast now as fathers, we also have a chance in the family court.
I have been fighting in the family court since the begining of the year, and i dont wish to go into the full background of my particular case online as it would not be fair on the mother, but I will fight until the end.
Im hopefull that this new body ordered to conduct the report, will atleast take an unbiased position when writting the report. Even if the report is not in my favour, the most important aspect is fairness. Fathers also deserve to have a fair hearing in the family courts. The idea that only the mother knows what is best for a child and is best equiped to look after a child following a breaking, is wrong and I hope that as the law is gradually changing, mother and father will be on an equal footing in the family court.
I have learnt alot these past few months, and I encourage all fathers to always fight for what you believe in. If your child grows up, he/she will know that you tried your best.
One thing I would recommend to fighting fathers out there, is not to appear to be attacking the mother personally. Always stay focused on the child. Even if the mother makes wild accusasions about you, you should always stay respectful towards her, afterall she is the mother of your child. It is important that all your energy is focused on the wellbeing of the child. So whenever you make a statement, please refraine from attacking the mother, calling her names etc. I k
Is this procedurally appropriate.
George
This was a week before i had to go to court to get full acess. I lost my son because of a CAFCASS officer personal feelings when they should be netural. Now i am stuck. Can you help?
Many thanks.
My ex did not mention any grounds of concerns about health safety in her claim, but feminist judge Sarah Davies ignored my questions/ avoided my questions about false allegations and ordered me to remain silent as the 3 women in court (CAFCASS OFFICER was female, also!!!) were discussing between themselves; Avoid this fast track East London Family Court as no one helps there in reception, the orders are always biased towards women!!! lLast week, District Judge Sarah Davies(who is a self-declared feminist, rude and in-competent judge that does not respect respondent fathers) shoed her style so ridiculuously ! She always looks to he left what the CAFCASS officer nods and just follows their instructions! The whole fast track family court in East London (CANARY WHARF) IS RIDICULOUS SCARY AND I URGE ALL FATHERS TO AVOID AT ANY CONDITION BY FOLLOWING THE POSTCODE RULE (OUT OF REACH BY THIS SHAMELESS COURT).
From paul
The ex didnt show up for the 1st court apperance the second is soon and cafcass still hasnt spoke to her.
please if Anyone Has Advice Or Suggestions I am More Than Listening.
Thank You S.E
What are his rights? He is thinking of getting the social involved now please help.
The Cafcass officer did not do any of the things, including my report, because there was no time. She lied and exaggerated about simple stuff. She lied about not having texts from me, judge did not delve further although they were on my phone. The consequent complaint I made was treated in a haphazard and derisory way. These people: be nice to them and lick their boots: otherwise, if it is a case of what is best for your child;;;;;;;;FORGET IT. END OF STORY.
The mother who has taken my son to court on numerous occasions and lost due to her unreasonable behaviour and neglect of the children. Recently the mother has been in contact with other family members asking for us to make a statement against my son saying all sorts of things including my granddaughter self harm. My granddaughter recently got excellent grades to enable her to go on to 6th form. The mother has a new child and another one due and has had several meetings with my daughter who has agreed to send a statement to the court Hearing on 30th September. I was asked to go to meet her and someone from Cafcass? I refused as this seemed very odd to me. My question was if she had such a good case why need a statement mearly stating we as a family have no contact. I have never trusted the mother who was a compulsive liar, has a mutiple personality disorder and my gut tells me something isn't right.If cafcass is involved surely they should report any problems and have children removed? My work involved child protection but with paediatrics . The mother has got to my daughter saying my grandson will have to go into care apparently due to mental damage by my son? My son has always fought for his children and been very verbal with the mother as she would never see sense. He won his case and it really feels lke a vendetta. My daughter states the mother has changed, found the lord and looks after her child very well. My arguement is she did the damage in the first place yes she was young, but the mental torture she did was unforgiveable. If cafcass needed a statement wouldn't they contact me? not a meeting in someones lounge ? I struggle to even know what to do as I have a terminally ill grandchild and cannot be dealing with this. Advice please
Thanks
Any advice welcome, I am planning to meet with cafcass to revisit the documentation so a formal plan can be put into place.
I was not given any reason from CAFCASS or my EX why I could not see my daughter.
I would like to know what she told them and why they advised the court to not let me see my daughter.
After all this time my daughter has got in touch with me and I don't think her mother has told her everything that happened in the past.
Thanks for any help you give.
im currently going thru cafcass for contact with my daughter. i have just split up with another partner and in the break up she called the police to say i was making threats to her. she did this knowing that cafcass where due to speak to me and to hurt me. we are now trying to sort thru our problems but cafcass want to do safeguard checks on us both. the police came out and spoke to me about the so called threats but no action was taken. will this show up on the safeguard checks for either of us?
thanaks
BUT to all concerned dads out there the cafcass officer at court listened and nodded in all the right places and as far as I am concerned without that Id be in the pub on the shorts by now ! Yes shes a social worker but she knew her stuff, So anyone worried about seeing them ...relax it really cant get any worse can it ?
Now Article 12 is or should be a prime consideration in CAFCASS report but then if that is not adhered to then that raises Human Rights ground where court follows blindly CAFCASS without asking sufficient questions.
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