View source for Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service

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{{Infobox Organization
|name         = Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service
|image        = File:CAFCASS logo.png
|image_border = 
|size         = 
|caption      = 
|abbreviation = Cafcass
|motto        = 
|formation    = 1 April 2001
|extinction   = 
|type         = [[Non-departmental public body]]
|status       = 
|purpose      = Reporting to Courts on the Safeguarding and welfare of children involved in Public and Private law Family proceedings
|headquarters = 
|location     = 
|region_served = [[England]]
|membership   = 
|language     = 
|leader_title = Chief Executive 
|leader_name  = Jacky Tiotto
|main_organ   = 
|parent_organization = [[Ministry of Justice (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Justice]]
|affiliations =
|num_staff    = 
|num_volunteers =
|budget       = 
|website      = {{URL|https://cafcass.gov.uk}}
|remarks      =
}}

The '''Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service''' ('''Cafcass''') is a [[non-departmental public body]] in [[England]]{{Ref|1}} set up to promote the welfare of children and families involved in [[family court]]. It was formed in April 2001 under the provisions of the [[Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000]] and is accountable to [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|Parliament]] through the [[Ministry of Justice (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Justice]]. Cafcass is independent of the courts, social services, education, health authorities and all similar agencies.<ref name="cafcass.gov.uk">{{Cite web|url=https://www.cafcass.gov.uk/about-cafcass.aspx|title=About Cafcass |website=www.cafcass.gov.uk |access-date=16 February 2021}}</ref>

==Activities==
Court proceedings for which Cafcass may provide support include:<ref name="cafcass.gov.uk"/>
*Parental applications under Section 8 of the [[Children Act 1989]] for a Child Arrangements Order, including where a child lives, spends time, or otherwise has contact with each parent
*Other parental applications under Section 8 of the Children Act 1989, such as a Prohibited Steps Order or a Specific Issue Order
*Adoption cases
*Children who are subject to a social services application for a care and/ or supervision order.
Cafcass' function is set out in [http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/43/section/12 Section 12(1) Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000] which states:

{{quote|“In respect of family proceedings in which the welfare of children is or may be in question, it is a function of [Cafcass] to:

(a) safeguard and promote the welfare of the children

(b) give advice to any court about any application made to it in such proceedings

(c) make provision for the children to be represented in such proceedings

(d) provide information, advice and other support for the children and their families.”<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/43/section/12|title=Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000|website=www.legislation.gov.uk|access-date=October 20, 2016}}</ref>}}

==History==
The provisions of court welfare services were the subject of two reviews. The [[Spending Review|Comprehensive Spending Review]] (CSR)<ref>11 June 1997</ref> and a subsequent review<ref>Autumn 1997</ref> conducted jointly by the [[Home Office]], the [[Lord Chancellor]]’s Department and the Department of Health concluded that a new integrated service subsuming these functions could improve service to the courts, better safeguard the interests of children, reduce wasteful overlaps and increase efficiency.<ref>Footnote 6 paragraph 1.4</ref>

The services spanned England and Wales and included: Family Court Welfare (FCW) (54 areas); the Guardian ad litem and Reporting Officer (GALRO) Service (59 panels) and the children’s work of the Official Solicitor’s (OS) Department.

The Home Office stated:
{{quote|"The review announced by the Home Secretary on 16 July 1997 into the relationship between the Prison Service and probation service may herald important changes to the structure, organisation, management, working practices, human resources and funding of the probation service. Both the prison-probation review and the Comprehensive Spending Review should result in steps which should improve public confidence in community penalties."<ref>Annual report 1998/1999, paragraph 13.15</ref>}}

The Home Office Prison-Probation review consultation paper<ref>Prison- Probation Review: Home Office (August 1998)</ref> did not mention family court welfare given that family court welfare was to move to a new unified family court welfare service.<ref>Support Services in Family Proceedings – Future Organisation of Court Welfare Services (Department of Health, Home Office, Lord Chancellor’s Department, Welsh Office) (July 1998): Consultation closed on 13 November 1998.</ref>

The government then announced the setting-up of a unified family court welfare service.<ref>House of Lords 27 July 1999</ref> Among many key areas to be addressed were ensuring: Cafcass's statutory basis; funding to cover start-up, transitional and ongoing costs; change management of the merger of 114 autonomous bodies into a single organisation; maintenance of current casework. These were addressed by a project team, drawn from the three relevant government departments and supplemented by consultants dealing with, for example, IT, payroll, estates and finance.

The Criminal Justice and Court Services Bill<ref>Presented to the House of Commons on 15 March 2000.</ref> was led by the Home Office as most of the Bill’s provisions concerned the establishment of a National Probation Service for England and Wales. A few parts concerned Cafcass arrangements.<ref>Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000 Chapter 11 (sections 11–17) and Schedule 2.</ref>

The Bill completed its parliamentary stages in autumn 2000.<ref>Royal assent 30 November 2000.</ref> The Act’s Cafcass provisions were set to commence on 1 April 2001.<ref>Section 80</ref> The short timeline created problems that took Cafcass years to resolve.

Cafcass's functions were to “(a) safeguard and promote the welfare of the children, (b) give advice to the court about any application made to it in such proceedings, (c) make provision for children to be represented in such proceedings, (d) provide information, advice and other support for the children and their families.”<ref>Section 12 (1)</ref> Subordinate legislation set out the duties of Cafcass practitioners.

In 2004 Cafcass published a policy and procedure concerning [[Domestic violence#CAFCASS|domestic violence]].

In 2005/06 Cafcass produced the consultation document ''Every Day Matters'' that led to a draft set of National Standards. These standards set out what service users, partner agencies and practitioners in the family justice system could expect. The standards updated the 2003 Cafcass Service Standards and Principles, and after piloting in the North-East Region, were phased in from 1 April 2007. The standards noted the importance of service-user feedback and the active engagement and participation of children in their case planning process. Cafcass asserted the importance of including children's views in the decision making processes involved in court proceedings. Young people could offer a "Needs, Wishes and Feelings" statement directly to the judge. However, Cafcass admitted{{according to whom|date=September 2015}} that they do not conform to any National Standards.

The Children's Rights Team spearheaded the formation of a Young People's Board for Cafcass. This board consists of 12 young people with experience of Cafcass's services. Since the board's formation in August 2006 they helped to shape Cafcass policies and procedures.

In 2011 the Family Justice Review, in its final report, stated the following about the Young People’s Board:

‘''We have been impressed by the valuable work undertaken by the Cafcass Young People’s Board. They provide an important perspective on the work of the family justice system and offer an intelligent and energetic challenge to the board of Cafcass. We believe that this work should be maintained through a Young People’s Board for the Family Justice Service, with a remit to consider issues in both public and private law and to report directly to the service.’''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/217343/family-justice-review-final-report.pdf |title=Family Justice Review Final Report |date=November 2011 |website=www.gov.uk |access-date=October 20, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102025004/https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/217343/family-justice-review-final-report.pdf |archive-date=November 2, 2013 |df=mdy }}</ref>

The Young People’s Board was expanded to cover the family justice system on a national scale and is now called The Family Justice Young People's Board. The Family Justice Young People’s Board (FJYPB) is a group of over 40 children and young people aged between 8 and 25 years old who live across England. All members have either had direct experience of the family justice system or have an interest in children’s rights and the family courts. The FJYPB is a permanent sub-group of the national Family Justice Board (FJB) and is responsible to this board. Two members of the FJYPB regularly attend FJB meetings.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/family-justice-young-peoples-board|title=Family Justice Young People's Board|website=www.gov.uk|access-date=October 20, 2016}}</ref>

In 2012 Cafcass published its Operating Framework which sets out how Cafcass meets its responsibilities as a family court social work service to children and young people, to courts and to family members, as required by legislation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cafcass.gov.uk/media/212819/cafcass_operating_framework.pdf|title=Cafcass Operating Framework|last=Cafcass|date=2014|website=www.cafcass.gov.uk|access-date=October 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160323223532/https://www.cafcass.gov.uk/media/212819/cafcass_operating_framework.pdf|archive-date=23 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Wales===
As of 1 April 2005, responsibility for the functions of Cafcass in Wales, known as CAFCASS Cymru, became the responsibility of the [[National Assembly for Wales]]. Following the changes within Welsh Government in 2007, CAFCASS Cymru became part of the Department for Health and Social Services.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://cafcass.gov.wales/children_and_young_people/i_want_to_learn_about_cafcass_cymru/?lang=en|title=Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service &#124; I want to learn about CAFCASS Cymru|website=cafcass.gov.wales|access-date=October 20, 2016}}</ref>

== Governance ==
On 1 April 2014, responsibility for Cafcass in England transferred from the [[Department for Education]] to the [[Ministry of Justice (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Justice]].

Edward Timpson CBE is the current Chair of the Cafcass Board, which includes eleven other members.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cafcass.gov.uk/about-cafcass/our-management/|title=Our management|website=Cafcass – Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service|language=en|access-date=3 June 2019}}</ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20171114093328/https://www.cafcass.gov.uk/about-cafcass/how-we-are-organised/the-board.aspx]. The Cafcass Board is made up of non-executive members appointed in accordance with the Membership, Committee and Procedure Regulations 2005. The Cafcass Board establishes the overall strategic aims and objectives for Cafcass consistent with the strategic policy objectives determined by the Secretary of State. It meets quarterly to monitor the performance of Cafcass and is accountable for Cafcass fulfilling its functions.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cafcass-annual-report-and-accounts-2015-to-2016|title=Cafcass annual report and accounts 2015 to 2016|last=Cafcass|date=July 2016|website=www.gov.uk|access-date=20 October 2016}}</ref>

The work of the Board is supported by three main sub-committees chaired by Board members: 
* The Audit and Risk Assurance Committee (ARAC) which gives assurance to the effectiveness of the internal control and risk management systems.
* The Quality Committee which scrutinises the quality of safeguarding practice and casework.
* The Performance Committee which monitors national performance against KPIs and Cafcass’ impact on the whole family justice system key performance measures (KPMs).<ref name=":0" />
There is also a Remuneration Committee which is convened as and when needed.<ref name=":0" />

The  Chief Executive and Accounting Officer for Cafcass is responsible and accountable to Parliament for the day-to-day operations, management and leadership of Cafcass and its handling of public funds administered to it.  Jacky Tiotto became Chief Executive in autumn 2019. She was previously  Director of Children’s Services at the [[London Borough of Bexley]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cafcass.gov.uk/2019/05/22/jacky-tiotto-announced-as-new-cafcass-chief-executive/|title=Jacky Tiotto announced as new Cafcass Chief Executive|date=22 May 2019|website= Cafcass – Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service|language=en|access-date=3 June 2019}}</ref> The Chief Executive is supported by the Corporate Management Team.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cafcass.gov.uk/about-cafcass/how-we-are-organised/corporate-management-team.aspx|title=Corporate management team|website=www.cafcass.gov.uk|publisher=Cafcass|access-date=20 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161021004218/https://www.cafcass.gov.uk/about-cafcass/how-we-are-organised/corporate-management-team.aspx|archive-date=21 October 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> 

DNA scheme Regulations came into effect on 23 November 2015 with Cafcass and Cafcass Cymru funding a new DNA scheme under section 20 of the Family Law Reform Act 1969.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cafcass.gov.uk/media/268569/information_for_courts_cafcass_cafcass_cymru_funding_for_dna_tests_in_child_arrangements_cases.pdf|title=Information for Courts: Cafcass / CAFCASS Cymru funding for DNA tests in Child Arrangements Cases|website=www.cafcass.gov.uk|access-date=October 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161021005541/https://www.cafcass.gov.uk/media/268569/information_for_courts_cafcass_cafcass_cymru_funding_for_dna_tests_in_child_arrangements_cases.pdf|archive-date=21 October 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Performance ==
During 2015–16, Cafcass worked with 116,104 children and young people across England.<ref name=":0" /> Cafcass is asked by family courts to become involved in public and private law cases as the independent voice of the child, advising the court on the issues children are facing, usually through recommendations they set out in reports to court. The primary aim is to reduce the risks to a child’s health and wellbeing and to promote their welfare and development.<ref name=":0" /> Cafcass has published a [https://web.archive.org/web/20161021003635/https://www.cafcass.gov.uk/media/245348/strategic_plan_2015-2020.pdf strategic plan for 2015–2020 ‘a stronger voice for the child’] which sets out its strategic priorities and its programmes to deliver these.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cafcass.gov.uk/media/245348/strategic_plan_2015-2020.pdf|title=Cafcass strategic plan 2015–2020|last=Cafcass|website=www.cafcass.gov.uk|publisher=Cafcass|access-date=October 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161021003635/https://www.cafcass.gov.uk/media/245348/strategic_plan_2015-2020.pdf|archive-date=October 21, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Cafcass is set Key Performance Indicator (KPI) targets by their sponsor department, the Ministry of Justice. The table below shows the KPI figures for 2015/16.<ref name=":0" />

{| class="wikitable"
! Key Performance Indicator
! Target
! 2015/16 Performance
|-
|Public care cases allocated to Children’s Guardian at month end
|97%
|'''99.7%'''
|-
|Average working days to allocate Children’s Guardian to care case
|< 3 working days
|'''0.7 days'''
|-
|Private law cases allocated to Family Court Adviser at month end
|97%
|'''98.7%'''
|-
|Private law section 7 reports filed by agreed date
|97%
|'''98.8%'''
|}

'''Public law:''' Between April 2015 and March 2016, Cafcass received 12,741 care applications. This figure is 14.2% (1,582 applications) higher than the same period the previous year and 20% (2,121 applications) higher when compared with the same period in 2013. On average Cafcass has received in excess of 1,000 new care applications per month during 2015–16.<ref name=":0" />

'''Private law:''' Cafcass received a total of 37,649 private law cases between April and March. This figure is 10.3% higher (3,530 cases) than 2014–15. On average Cafcass received in excess of 3,100 new private law cases per month during 2015–16.<ref name=":0" />

[[Ofsted]] has a duty to inspect Cafcass under section 143 of the Education and Inspections Act 2006 which requires the Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills to inspect the performance of Cafcass functions. The current Cafcass inspection framework replaced the previous tri- annual inspection of each of the 17 Cafcass service areas with one annual national inspection.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/ofsted-inspections-of-the-children-and-family-court-advisory-and-support-service|title=Ofsted inspections of the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service – GOV.UK|website=www.gov.uk|access-date=October 20, 2016}}</ref>
Cafcass had its [https://web.archive.org/web/20161021010607/https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/sites/default/files/documents/cafcass-reports/national_report_2014/Cafcass%20national%20inspection%20report%202014.pdf first national Ofsted inspection in March 2014] and the overall judgement was ‘good’ with an ‘outstanding’ judgement for leadership and governance.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/sites/default/files/documents/cafcass-reports/national_report_2014/Cafcass%20national%20inspection%20report%202014.pdf|title=Inspection of Cafcass as a national organisation 2014|last=Ofsted|date=2014|website=www.ofsted.gov.uk|access-date=October 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161021010607/https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/sites/default/files/documents/cafcass-reports/national_report_2014/Cafcass%20national%20inspection%20report%202014.pdf|archive-date=21 October 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> Cafcass had its [https://files.api.ofsted.gov.uk/v1/file/50000296 second national Ofsted inspection in March 2018] and Ofsted rated Cafcass as 'outstanding'.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://files.api.ofsted.gov.uk/v1/file/50000296|title=Inspection of Cafcass as a national organisation 2018}}</ref>

Cafcass publishes an annual report of its activities together with its audited accounts after the end of each financial year. Cafcass provides to the [[Ministry of Justice (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Justice]] its finalised (audited) accounts in line with HM Treasury guidelines.<ref name=":0" />

Cafcass is represented on the national Family Justice Board and chairs 10 out of 42 local Family Justice Boards.<ref name=":0" />

==Criticism==
{{Update|section|date=November 2014}}

In 2008, an Ofsted inspection of Cafcass service users in [[South Yorkshire]] concluded that case records often did not show how Cafcass had come to its conclusions.<ref>[http://www.familylawweek.co.uk/site.aspx?i=ed25025 "More criticism for CAFCASS from Ofsted"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141029015438/http://www.familylawweek.co.uk/site.aspx?i=ed25025 |date=29 October 2014 }}, Family Law Week.</ref> In a post-inspection review in 2009, Ofsted found that in four of nine recommendations, progress was inadequate.<ref>[http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/sites/default/files/documents/cafcass-reports/south_yorkshire/Cafcass%20South%20Yorkshire%20PIR%20letter.pdf Letter re. "Post-inspection review: Ofsted inspection of the experience of Cafcass service users in the family courts in South Yorkshire 2008"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141028163714/http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/sites/default/files/documents/cafcass-reports/south_yorkshire/Cafcass%20South%20Yorkshire%20PIR%20letter.pdf |date=28 October 2014}}, 23 July 2009.</ref>

In 2009, Ofsted inspected Cafcass: [[Lancashire]] and [[Cumbria]] service area (including [[Blackburn with Darwen]] and [[Blackpool]]). They found Cafcass to be inadequate in equality, diversity, value for money, complaints handling, service responsiveness, performance management, self-evaluation, safeguarding children and improving outcomes for children. The report stated that:

<blockquote>''"the service area does not ensure that consistent consideration of the impact of family breakdown on outcomes for children is embedded in all aspects of case planning and reporting to court. The impact of ... the service in ensuring that all children are safe or feel safe is inadequate."'' 
<ref>[http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20141124154759/http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/sites/default/files/documents/cafcass-reports/lancashire_and_cumbria_service_area/Cafcass%20Lancashire%20and%20Cumbria%20service%20area.pdf "Ofsted’s inspection of Cafcass: Lancashire and Cumbria service area"], December 2009.</ref></blockquote>

In 2009/10 The Annual Report of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Education, Children's Services and Skills found that ''"(Cafcass) is performing poorly, with four out of the five service areas inspected judged to be inadequate."''<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/news/annual-report-of-her-majestys-chief-inspector-of-education-childrens-services-and-skills-200910|title=The Annual Report of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Education, Children's Services and Skills 2009/10|date=23 November 2010|publisher=[[Ofsted]]|access-date=15 February 2021|archive-date=7 November 2014|archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20141107033150/http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/news/annual-report-of-her-majestys-chief-inspector-of-education-childrens-services-and-skills-200910|url-status=bot: unknown}}</ref>

In November 2010 a parliamentary Commons Public Affairs Committee found that  "Cafcass as an organisation is not fit for purpose" and that it did not make "child-based decisions".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.familylawweek.co.uk/site.aspx?i=ed71348|title=Family Law Week: Commons Public Accounts Committee brands Cafcass 'not fit for purpose'|date=November 2010|access-date=18 April 2020|archive-date=22 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200922054931/https://www.familylawweek.co.uk/site.aspx?i=ed71348|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2011, presenters to a Justice Select Committee said that Cafcass was "beyond reform" and "should be abolished".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.familylawweek.co.uk/site.aspx?i=ed81640|title=Family Law Week: Justice Committee told that Cafcass is 'beyond reform'|access-date=25 September 2015|archive-date=26 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150926014342/http://www.familylawweek.co.uk/site.aspx?i=ed81640|url-status=dead}}</ref>

A High Court judge said in 2014 that it appeared to be a practice "widespread across the country" that children were taken into foster care based on reports which [[family court]]s "cut and pasted" into their own rulings, without giving the parents the opportunity to view the reports or respond to them.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/cut-and-paste-rulings-let-children-be-taken-away-from-mothers-9135734.html|title=Cut-and-paste rulings 'let children be taken away from mothers'|last=Cheston|first=Paul|date=18 February 2014 |work=[[London Evening Standard]]|page=25|access-date=18 April 2020}}</ref>

==Similar organisations in other countries==
* [[Bureau Jeugdzorg]] and [[Raad voor de Kinderbescherming]] Netherlands
* [[Child Protective Services]] USA
* [[Jugendamt]] Austria and Germany
* [[CISMAI]] Italy

==Notes==
{{note|1}} Cafcass originally covered [[England and Wales]] but on 1 April 2005 Cafcass Cymru was created with responsibility transferred to the [[Welsh Assembly]].

==See also==
*[[Child custody]]
*[[Divorce]]
*[[Family law]]
*[[Parental responsibility (access and custody)|Parental rights]]
*[[Paternity (law)]]
*[[Family law|Residence (ENG)]]
*[[Carol Smart|Professor Carol Smart]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*[http://www.cafcass.gov.uk Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060517114320/http://www.hmica.gov.uk/pubs_caf.htm MSCI Reports on Cafcass Inspections, though Ofsted now inspect Cafcass]
*[http://www.napo.org.uk/ Napo (trade union representing Cafcass and Probation staff)]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20040505122057/http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm200203/cmselect/cmlcd/614/61402.htm Committee on the Lord Chancellor's Department: CAFCASS Report]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070129211754/http://www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/socialcare/safeguarding/workingtogether/ Guidelines] on safeguarding children within which all CAFCASS staff work.

{{Ministry of Justice (United Kingdom)}}
{{Social sciences}}
{{Family rights}}
{{Law}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Children And Family Court Advisory And Support Service}}
[[Category:2001 establishments in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Child welfare in England]]
[[Category:Divorce in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Family law in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Ministry of Justice (United Kingdom)]]
[[Category:Non-departmental public bodies of the United Kingdom government]]
[[Category:Organisations based in the London Borough of Camden]]
[[Category:Organizations established in 2001]]