This Factsheet is about complaints relating to the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service in Wales (CAFCASS CYMRU). It should be read together with our general information booklet about our service.
CAFCASS CYMRU is an organisation within the Welsh Government, and works with children and families who are involved in family court cases. It is independent of the courts, social services, education and health authorities and similar agencies. It champions the interests of children involved in family proceedings, advising the family courts on what it considers to be in the best interests of individual children.
Its role is to:
- Safeguard and promote the welfare of children;
- Give advice to the family courts;
- Make provision for children to be represented;
- Provide information, advice and support to children and their families.
If you are dissatisfied with the administrative way in which CAFCASS CYMRU deals with your case, then you can complain to the Ombudsman about that process.
He can:
- Look at any administrative failings in how CAFCASS has dealt with you and your case;
- Look at a complaint about how CAFCASS CYMRU has followed its complaints procedure, or any stage of it.
He cannot:
- Look at any issues of suspension, discipline or any personnel issues concerning members of CAFCASS CYMRU staff;
- Take any action in respect of the commencement or conduct of legal proceedings before a court of law. If you are unhappy with the Court’s decision then you may wish to consider taking legal advice;
- Look at or take action in respect of any report prepared for the purposes of court proceedings.
- If you are unhappy with the content of a CAFCASS CYMRU report that has been prepared for the purposes of court proceedings then you should take the opportunity to raise and clarify any concerns regarding the report within the Court proceedings.
- You do not need to make your complaint to the Ombudsman using a solicitor or any other advocate; his service is free and impartial and we aim to make the process as easy to follow for complainants as possible.
You may wish to consider contacting the following organisations for advice:
CAFCASS CYMRU – https://gov.wales/cafcass-cymru
Children’s Commissioner for Wales, who may be able to act as an advocate for a child – https://www.childcomwales.org.uk/
Meic is an information, advice and support helpline service for children and young people up to the age of 25 in Wales – http://www.meiccymru.org.
The Ombudsman is independent and impartial; he cannot order public bodies to do what he recommends – but, in practice, they almost always do. Examples of cases that the Ombudsman has looked at can be found on our website. Please see www.ombudsman.wales
If you are unsure whether the Ombudsman would be able to look into your complaint, please contact us.