CAFCASS workload remains at high level


CAFCASS stands for Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service. They represent children in family court cases in England. The agency is independent and advises the Court about what is safe for children and in their best interests. Operating within the law set by Parliament (Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000), CAFCASS is there to make sure that children’s voices are heard at the heart of the family court setting.

In March 2023, Cafcass received 5,389 new children’s cases (involving 8,224 children). The average daily demand level in March 2023 was 234 children’s cases per working day compared to 231 children’s cases received per working day during March 2022. The number of active open outstanding children’s cases at the end of March 2023 remains at high levels (32,904 children’s cases); while this represents a reduction in open active cases since March 2022 (down 7.1%) there remains 9.2% more children’s cases compared to March 2020. There are currently 53,463 children on open active children’s cases.

Amanda Erskine is a solicitor in the Family department at Barker Gotelee Solicitors in Ipswich.

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