Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS) is a national non-departmental public body for England and Wales ¹ set up to safeguard and promote the welfare of children involved in family court proceedings. It was formed on 1 April 2001 under the provisions of the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act and is accountable to Parliament through the Department for Education and Skills. CAFCASS is independent of the courts, social services, education and health authorities and all similar agencies.

With effect from 1 April 2005, responsibility for the functions of the Children & Family Court Advisory and Support Service in Wales became the responsibility of the National Assembly for Wales.

CAFCASS looks after the interests of children involved in family proceedings. It works with children and their families, and then advises the courts on what it considers to be in the children's best interests. CAFCASS only works in the family courts. Examples of matters that may be taken to family courts are:

when parents who are separating or divorcing can't agree on arrangements for their children;
an adoption application or
when children are subject to an application for care or supervision proceedings by Social Services

During 2003 CAFCASS was one of the targets of demonstrations by Fathers 4 Justice as part of the Fathers' rights campaign.

In 2004 CAFCASS published a policy and procedure to do with domestic violence.

Baroness Pitkeathley OBE is the current Chair of the CAFCASS Board, which includes eleven other members.

Anthony Douglas is the current Chief Executive and Accounting Officer; he is supported by the Corporate Decisions Group, nine regional managers and the Director of CAFCASS Cymru.

[edit] Criticism of CAFCASS

CAFCASS has been repeatedly criticised by fathers' rights groups who claim that it is failing in its duty to promote the welfare of children through unfairly denying children contact with absent parents (usually fathers). CAFCASS are also accused of overstepping their legal powers and taking an ideological position in favour of women.

In December 2003, CAFCASS's board was dismissed by Lord Falconer of Thoroton, the Lord Chancellor.

Celebrity advocate of fathers rights Bob Geldof has described his contempt for CAFCASS as "the same contempt I have for the Nazis."

[edit] Notes

Note 1: CAFCASS originally covered the whole of England and Wales, but on 1 April 2005, CAFCASS Cymru was created with responsibility transferred to the Welsh Assembly CAFCASS press release.