Cafcass — Thames Valley: what they do in your family court case
REVIEWED BY: Sean McNamara on 2026-08-27
What Cafcass is
Cafcass (the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service) safeguards children's interests in family court proceedings in England. After a C100 application the court asks Cafcass to run safeguarding checks and produce a letter for the first hearing (FHDRA); a Family Court Adviser (FCA) may then be appointed, and in care proceedings a Children's Guardian acts for the child.
The Thames Valley
Verified from Cafcass's official operational areas map (cafcass.gov.uk):
- Area A7 — Bracknell Forest, Oxfordshire, Reading, Slough, West Berkshire, Wokingham, Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead (with South Gloucestershire and Swindon). Assistant Director: Gentian Dyer; Head of Practice: Nirmala Dutta.
How to contact Cafcass
- National telephone (all regions): 0300 456 4000 — Mon–Thu 09:00–17:00, Fri 09:00–16:30
- WhatsApp: +44 7798 926 698 · Email: Telephoneenquiries@cafcass.gov.uk
- Children's line: 0808 175 3333
- Office finder: cafcass.gov.uk/contact-us/find-your-local-office
How to work with Cafcass well
Be honest and consistent; stay child-focused; respond promptly; never use your child to deliver messages; keep records.
Official links
- https://www.cafcass.gov.uk/contact-us
- https://www.cafcass.gov.uk/cafcass-operational-areas-map
This page is general information, not legal advice. YourFamilyCase.co.uk is an independent information directory and is not affiliated with Cafcass, HMCTS or gov.uk.
Content verified against the official HMCTS court directory, gov.uk forms and fees pages, and the professional body registers (SRA, FMC, Bar Council). Last reviewed September 2026.
What happens next with Cafcass
In most applications about children, Cafcass carries out safeguarding checks before the first hearing and sends the court a short safeguarding letter. The court may later ask for a fuller welfare report, often called a section 7 report. You can read the report carefully and respond in writing to the points you disagree with, one by one.
EvidenceCanvas, an online tool for people who represent themselves, has a plain-English explainer: Cafcass section 7 reports explained. It is not legal advice.
YourFamilyCase and EvidenceCanvas are both owned by Noverquis Ltd.