Cafcass looks after the interests of children involved in family proceedings.

They work with children and their families, and then advise the courts on what they consider to be in the best interests of individual children.

Cafcass champions the interests of children involved in family proceedings, advising the family courts in England on what it considers to be in the best interests of individual children. 

Their role is to:

• Safeguard and promote the welfare of children.
• Give advice to the family courts.
• Make provision for children to be represented.
• Provide information, advice and support to children and their families.

Experienced Family Court Advisers may be asked by the court to work with families and then advise the court on what they consider to be the best interests of the children involved in three main areas:

• divorce and separation, sometimes called ‘private law’, where parents or carers can’t agree on arrangements for their children
• care proceedings, sometimes called ‘public law’, where social services have serious concerns about the safety or welfare of a child
• adoption, which can be either public or private law.