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Family Court Library

General Disclaimer: Nothing presented constitutes legal advice and the McKenzie Friend UK Network is not a legal entity or in anyway claims to be a 'legal resource'. The resource guide is supported by McKenzie Friends and Litigants in person for Litigants in Person in Family Court. McKenzie Friends provide layperson support as an informed friend under the Family Court Practice Guidance of 2010. All information is published under the spirit of that guidance. For any corrections of the information, please contact the McKenzie Friend UK Network
 
The Role of Cafcass and the FHDRA
 
 
 
Source CLICK HERE

'A Family Court Adviser (FCA) will work with both parties at the first hearing.

If it has not been possible for Cafcass to have completed the telephone interview with you or the other party, the FCA will ensure any outstanding safeguarding issues are discussed, assessed, and that the findings are made available to the court. The FCA will discuss the content of the safeguarding letter with the court and will advise on next steps.

If there are no child safeguarding concerns, the FCA will try to help you and the other party reach a safe agreement without further court proceedings. This could include completing a Parenting Plan .

If you and the other party can reach an agreement, and the court is satisfied that this is safe, and in your children’s best interests, it may be possible to end the process at this stage by making a ‘consent order’.

However, if you are not able to agree, or there are concerns about the welfare or safety of your children, the court may:

  • refer you and the other party to a mediation assessment meeting or ask us to help you reach an agreement;
  • order a ‘finding of fact’ hearing if disputed allegations have been made that might affect the outcome of the court proceedings, such as of domestic abuse;
  • where there are concerns about domestic abuse, or domestic abuse is found by the court to have taken place, the court may order a party to take part in a domestic abuse perpetrator programme (DAPP);
  • ask us to carry out more detailed work with your family and to write a report about your children’s welfare (known as a section 7 report).'
 
 

 

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