What is a Cafcass safeguarding letter?
A Cafcass safeguarding letter is the short report Cafcass sends to the court before the first hearing in a child arrangements case. It records what Cafcass found when it checked with the police and the local authority, and it usually summarises what each parent said when Cafcass phoned them. It is not a full welfare report.
What does Cafcass check?
In the standard process, Cafcass checks with the police and the local authority and, where it can, phones each parent. Under Practice Direction 12B, these enquiries before the first hearing are confined to safety and risk.
The letter usually also records the child’s current living and contact arrangements. A fuller welfare assessment is a separate report, covered in our guide to the section 7 report.
When does the letter reach the court?
Cafcass should file the letter within 17 working days of receiving the application, and at least 3 working days before the first hearing. If your hearing is listed at short notice, the timing can be tight.
Will I see it?
The court should tell the parties what the letter says, unless doing so would risk harm. Cafcass says the letter is confidential and should not be shared, so do not post it or pass it around. Keep it private to your case and the person helping you with it.
How should I handle the telephone call?
Take the call somewhere private. It usually lasts about 30 minutes, so allow up to 45. Answer factually, with dates, and say if you do not know. Afterwards, write down the date, the time, how long it lasted and what you were asked.
What should I do when the letter arrives?
Read it at once and list any factual errors, such as wrong dates or arrangements. Notice the status of anything alleged: is it an allegation, an admission, or a finding by a court? Raise errors through your solicitor or at the hearing. Our sample pages show how wording can change what a record means over time.
Does the letter decide my case?
No. It informs the first hearing, which is explained in our guide to the first hearing (FHDRA). The court decides what happens next and may ask for further reports.
Related guides
- What happens at the first hearing (FHDRA)?
- What is a section 7 report?
- Family court glossary: plain-English terms for fathers
- Free checklist: your first 30 days in Family Court
- When You Can’t See Your Child: the book
Sources
- Practice Direction 12B, Child Arrangements Programme, paragraphs 13.2 to 13.7 and 14.13 (justice.gov.uk)
- Cafcass, Welcome to Cafcass (cafcass.gov.uk)
Sources checked 20 September 2026. Procedure changes, so check that each source is current before relying on it.
This guide gives general information about the standard process in England and Wales. It is not legal advice, and procedure changes. Some court areas use a different process, the Child Focused Model, so check your notice of hearing. Full disclaimer