Divorce & Family Law Solicitor
Woolley & Co Solicitors
The Child Impact Report: What Separating Parents Need to Know
Family court proceedings have traditionally been seen as time-consuming and emotionally draining, with important concerns around safety not always addressed as early as they should have been. To address this, the Pathfinder Courts pilot launched in Dorset and Wales in 2022, before expanding across South-East Wales, Birmingham, West Yorkshire, and several other regions. The pilot significantly reduced the time to resolve cases by more than seven months and has been widely welcomed. In March it was announced that the process – now known as Child Focused Courts – would be expanded throughout England and Wales.
At the heart of this new system sits a single document: the Child Impact Report (CIR). Here is what every parent needs to understand about it.
What the CIR Is and Who Prepares It
The Child Impact Report is a comprehensive welfare assessment that provides a child-led analysis of a child’s lived experience, safety, and emotional needs. Governed by the Child Impact Assessment Framework (CIAF), it replaces the traditional Safeguarding Letter and Section 7 report with a single investigative document filed early in proceedings. It is prepared by a Family Court Adviser (FCA) from Cafcass – the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service – or, where children’s services are already involved, by a local authority social worker.
The CIR is split into two parts. Part 1 is the main report, completed first. The court can order a Part 2 report if anything has changed for the child or more information becomes available after Part 1 was conducted.
When Does the Process Begin?
The Pathfinder process begins when an application (C100 or C1A) is issued. The court reviews the application and sends an order to Cafcass on Day 1. Safeguarding checks are completed within seven working days. The case is allocated to a Family Court Adviser, and if a full assessment is required, the FCA completes the Child Impact Report within 40 working days, minus the seven used for initial screening.
For parents, this means the clock starts immediately. There is no extended period of procedural delay before Cafcass becomes meaningfully involved, and that changes everything about how parents need to prepare.
What Parents Are Asked to Provide
Cafcass will make enquiries with the police, local authority where required, and schools, and will contact the parties to discuss the children and any risks posed to them. Parents can expect to be contacted by their FCA relatively quickly. The CIR sets out basic information about the family and collates information from different sources, including schools, health agencies, and wider family members. Where appropriate, it also incorporates a risk assessment from a domestic abuse specialist.
How Children Are Involved
Children are seen in person within 15 working days from allocation, where appropriate. For younger children, this may involve observation during a home visit rather than a formal conversation; for older children and teenagers, a more direct discussion is likely. Decisions about interviewing children are generally taken sensitively, especially where children have special needs, with schools the preferred venue.
Crucially, children are not being asked to choose between parents. The purpose is to understand their experiences, concerns, and wishes so these can properly inform the court’s decision-making. A child who expresses a preference is not casting a deciding vote – the court weighs those views alongside age, maturity, and all other welfare considerations.
Things Worth Knowing Before You Start
Most parents going through this process are doing their best in genuinely difficult circumstances. The points below are a heads-up about common misunderstandings that can make things harder than they need to be.
Keep the focus on your child, not your co-parent. It’s natural to want to explain the full history of what’s gone wrong. But the CIR is about your child’s experience and welfare, not about who was right or wrong. You’ll make the most of your time with the FCA by coming prepared to talk about your child – their routines, friendships, how they’ve been coping, and what they need.
Try not to prepare your child for their Cafcass visit. A brief, calm reassurance that someone wants to find out how they’re doing is fine. But coaching them on what to say, even with good intentions, puts them under pressure. FCAs are skilled at helping children feel at ease, so the best thing you can do is let that happen.
Your child won’t be asked to choose sides. The FCA’s role is to understand your child’s feelings and experiences, not to ask them to make a decision. Be careful how you explain the process to them – framing it as “you get to tell the judge where you want to live” can create anxiety and unrealistic expectations.
Respond to Cafcass promptly. The early stages are crucial, as information provided at the outset can shape the entire case. Getting back to Cafcass quickly ensures your perspective is fully reflected in the report.
If you disagree with the CIR, there is a proper route. Any challenge should be made within seven days of the second gatekeeping hearing by applying to vary the order. Speak to your solicitor – that is always more effective than contacting the Cafcass officer directly.
How to Approach the Process Constructively
The most useful reframe for any parent is this: the question is not “how do I win?” but “how do I help the court understand my child’s life and needs?”
Courts under Pathfinder expect parents to demonstrate insight into their child’s experience and the impact of parental conflict. A parent who can speak coherently about their child’s routines, friendships, school life, emotional needs, and how the separation has affected them – rather than primarily about the failures of the other parent – is far more likely to make a positive impression on a Family Court Adviser.
If there are genuine safety concerns – domestic abuse, substance misuse, or risk of harm – these should be raised clearly and factually. Specialist domestic abuse organisations may conduct risk assessments and provide ongoing support throughout proceedings. Parents who have experienced abuse should not be deterred from raising it out of concern that Pathfinder’s emphasis on non-adversarial resolution means serious risks will be minimised. The CIR specifically incorporates domestic abuse risk assessment where relevant.
What Happens After the CIR Is Submitted
The judge reviews the CIR and decides how to proceed. This may involve referring parents to mediation or non-mediative interventions, ordering further assessments, making an interim order, or holding a decision hearing to make a final order.
Cases without complex safety concerns, but where agreement cannot be reached, may be allocated to the adjudication track and proceed to a decision hearing. More complex cases – typically involving allegations of domestic abuse requiring fact-finding – are allocated to the case management track. While these may require multiple hearings, the court has clearer information about risks and welfare concerns from a much earlier stage.
This new model means that the first court hearing may also be the last. Because the CIR has already placed comprehensive welfare information before the court, judges can and do make final orders at the first Information and Decision Hearing so the importance of the Child Impact Report cannot be overstated.
Read more articles by Woolley & Co Solicitors.
About Arzu Lone
Arzu Lone is a family solicitor with Woolley & Co, Solicitors. She is based in Sutton Coldfield and is focused on helping clients at every stage of separation and family proceedings. Arzu brings over 15 years’ experience specialising exclusively in family law, advising clients on all aspects of relationship breakdown including divorce, financial settlements and children matters. She also has particular expertise in complex cases, including cross-border divorce and high-conflict children disputes involving sensitive issues such as coercive and controlling behaviour.