Cafcass (Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service)
Cafcass is a UK government non-departmental public body, sponsored by the Ministry of Justice, that advises family courts in England on children's welfare through Family Court Advisers, Children's Guardians, and digital co-parenting tools.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2001
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Cafcass (Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service) does
Cafcass (Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service) is an executive non-departmental public body (NDPB) of the UK government, established in 2001 under the Children Act 2001 and sponsored by the Ministry of Justice. It is the statutory body with the exclusive mandate to advise family courts in England on the welfare and best interests of children involved in private law and public law proceedings. The organisation employs approximately 1,180 staff, including Family Court Advisers (FCAs) and Children's Guardians, who produce safeguarding letters, Section 7 welfare reports, and act as guardians in care proceedings.
The service portfolio combines court-directed statutory work with self-serve digital tools. Core operational services include FCA reports, Children's Guardian appointments in public law cases, and the recently launched Enabling Family Time service (May 2025), which replaced the legacy Improving Child and Family Arrangements (ICFA) service. Digital offerings sit under the Planning Together for Children platform and include the Our Child's Plan interactive co-parenting tool (available in English, Polish, and Urdu, with child-friendly versions) and e-learning modules delivered in partnership with Action for Children. Supporting services include court-directed DNA testing through DNA Legal and the Child Impact Assessment Framework (CIAF) used by FCAs in professional assessments. Distribution is via family court appointments, local authority referrals, a contact centre (0300 456 4000), WhatsApp, and a multi-portal website (cafcass.gov.uk).
The business model is a single government commissioning line. Cafcass is funded entirely by the Ministry of Justice, and all services are provided free of charge to families and courts; there is no commercial revenue, no pricing tiers, and no third-party capital. The organisation is not investor-backed and is not subject to PE/VC-style ownership dynamics. Quality assurance is anchored by an Ofsted Outstanding Provider rating awarded in 2024.
Cafcass (Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service) firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cafcass (Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service)
- Legal name
- Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service
- Website
- https://cafcass.gov.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2001
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- Cafcass is a UK government non-departmental public body, sponsored by the Ministry of Justice, that advises family courts in England on children's welfare through Family Court Advisers, Children's Guardians, and digital co-parenting tools.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Cafcass (Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service) is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Cafcass (Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service) business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Government Commission: Cafcass is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Ministry of Justice. Core services are funded through government commissioning and are provided free to families involved in family court proceedings.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Free statutory services for families in court proceedings |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
Cafcass (Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service) product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cafcass is a UK statutory body that advises the family courts in England on the welfare of children involved in private and public law proceedings. It appoints Family Court Advisers (FCAs) and Children's Guardians to produce safeguarding letters and welfare reports, and commissions additional services including the Planning Together for Children programme, the Enabling Family Time supervised contact service, and court-directed DNA testing.
Product overview
Cafcass operates as a UK government body providing family court advisory services, not a traditional product company. Its service portfolio is built around the Planning Together for Children digital platform, which encompasses the Our Child's Plan interactive tool for co-parenting agreements, e-learning modules, and workshop coordination through partner Action for Children. Supporting services include Enabling Family Time (supervised family visits), the legacy ICFA service, and court-directed DNA testing coordination. For professionals, Cafcass provides the Child Impact Assessment Framework (CIAF) containing assessment tools for Family Court Advisers covering domestic abuse, harmful conflict, alienating behaviours, and parenting capacity. The main cafcass.gov.uk website serves as an informational portal for children, families, and professionals about family court processes.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Planning Together for Children: A resource for parents and carers to help them focus on putting children first when making arrangements to share parenting responsibilities, including e-learning materials and workshops.
- Our Child's Plan
- Enabling Family Time
Products and services
- Planning Together for Children Online resource and e-learning programme for parents and carers helping them focus on putting children first when making arrangements to share parenting responsibilities, including workshop sessions delivered in partnership with Action for Children.
- Our Child's Plan
Quantifiable outcome
- Outstanding Ofsted rating for 2024
Companies that use Cafcass (Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service)
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Cafcass (Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service) technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature4 records
Cafcass (Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service) partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.
- DNA Legal (Eurofins Medigenomics Forensik GMBH)coreDNA Legal is contracted and accredited to conduct DNA testing on behalf of Cafcass for family court proceedings. The laboratory is accredited by the Ministry of Justice to carry out court-standard DNA tests, testing up to 67 DNA markers. Testing confirms parentage with 99.99% accuracy.
- Action for ChildrencoreAction for Children is Cafcass's training partner for the Planning Together for Children programme. They deliver workshops and provide guidance to parents completing the e-learning components. Approved partners of Action for Children also deliver portions of the programme.
- NACCC (National Association of Child Contact Centres)coreNACCC provides accreditation for child contact services used by Cafcass. External organisations providing child contact services must be NACCC-accredited for supported or supervised contact in community or centre-based settings. NACCC-accredited family centres are used for Enabling Family Time sessions.
- Ministry of JusticeflagshipCafcass is a non-departmental public body (NDPB) sponsored by the Ministry of Justice. Core services including Family Court Adviser reports, Children's Guardian services, Planning Together for Children, Enabling Family Time, and DNA testing are commissioned and funded by the Ministry of Justice.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Cafcass (Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service) competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- NSPCC (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children): NSPCC is the UK's leading children's charity focused on preventing child abuse. It operates across a broader child welfare remit (helplines, campaigning, direct services) but overlaps with Cafcass on safeguarding and child protection concerns.
- Citizens Advice: Citizens Advice is a UK-wide statutory advisory network providing free, independent advice to the public. It overlaps with Cafcass on the family law and family justice advisory function but covers a much broader advice portfolio.
Direct peers
- Scottish Children's Reporter Administration (SCRA): SCRA is the Scottish equivalent of Cafcass, a statutory body responsible for safeguarding children's welfare in family proceedings. It performs a directly comparable role in Scotland, making it the closest functional peer in the UK.
- Action for Children: Action for Children is Cafcass's core training partner delivering the Planning Together for Children workshops. It is one of the UK's largest children's charities providing direct services to children and families.
- Children's Commissioner for England: An independent statutory office focused on promoting and protecting the rights of children in England. While not a court advisory body, it shares Cafcass's child welfare mandate and government-backed public body status.
- Coram: Coram is a UK children's charity group including Coram's Fields and Coram Voice, providing direct legal advocacy and support to children in family proceedings. It is comparable to Cafcass in supporting children through family court processes.
- HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS): HMCTS is an executive agency of the Ministry of Justice that operates the family courts Cafcass serves. Cafcass is appointed by and provides welfare advice directly into HMCTS family court proceedings.
- Cafcass Cymru: Cafcass Cymru is the Welsh equivalent operating under Welsh Government commissioning. It performs the same statutory family court advisory function as Cafcass England but serves families in Wales.
Emerging players
- Together Trust: Together Trust is a UK charity providing specialist education, care, and support services for children and young people, including those with disabilities and those in family proceedings. It intersects with Cafcass's child welfare remit through looked-after children and adoption services.
- Family Rights Group: Family Rights Group is a charity that advises parents and family members involved with children's services and family courts. It addresses an overlapping audience (parents in proceedings) and shares Cafcass's family justice mission from the family advocacy side.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Cafcass (Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service) social profiles
Digital presenceCafcass (Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service) compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Cafcass (Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service) financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cafcass (Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service) leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Cafcass (Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service) funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cafcass (Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service) M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Cafcass (Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service)
What does Cafcass (Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service) do?
Cafcass is a UK statutory body that advises the family courts in England on the welfare of children involved in private and public law proceedings. It appoints Family Court Advisers (FCAs) and Children's Guardians to produce safeguarding letters and welfare reports, and commissions additional services including the Planning Together for Children programme, the Enabling Family Time supervised contact service, and court-directed DNA testing.
Is Cafcass (Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service) a public or private company?
Cafcass (Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service) is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Cafcass (Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service) founded?
Cafcass (Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service) was founded in 2001. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Cafcass (Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service) based?
Cafcass (Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service) is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Cafcass (Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service) make money?
One revenue line is on record: government Commission.
Who are Cafcass (Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service)'s main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are NSPCC (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children) and Citizens Advice. Direct peers are Scottish Children's Reporter Administration (SCRA), Action for Children, Children's Commissioner for England, Coram, HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) and Cafcass Cymru. Emerging players are Together Trust and Family Rights Group.
Does Cafcass (Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service) have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cafcass (Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service).