Community directory

Cafcass (Central Area - C2)

The Central Area covers Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire and Lincolnshire.

The Children and Family Court Advisory Service (Cafcass) is the single service created to look after the interests of children involved in family court proceedings.

CAFCASS is responsible for advising the courts on the right arrangements for children who are the subject of family court proceedings. CAFCASS will advise the courts on issues such as placing children in local authority care, applications for residence or contact, adoption, disputes about medical treatments and prohibited steps, such as preventing a child being taken abroad.

Private law reports are prepared when agreement cannot be reached about children by parents who are separating. The service aims to try to help parents work together for the children's best interests and their future welfare.

In public law a Children's Guardian is appointed to give assessment of the child's best interests and their wishes and feelings to the court. All CAFCASS practitioners are experienced and qualified child-care professionals who are committed to being entirely child-focussed in their work.