What you think and how you feel really matters to us. Your Cafcass worker is there to listen to you and make sure your voice is heard. They will talk with you about your experiences, hopes, wishes, and feelings, and help the family court understand what is most important to you.
Helping you plan and prepare
Before your meeting with your Cafcass worker, it can help to think about what you want to say and what feels most important to you.
In the film, children offer some great tips on this subject by talking about what it was like when they first met their Cafcass worker. They share ideas about:
- What you might want to say when you meet your worker
- How you can share your wishes, feelings, and experiences in a way that feels right for you
- What your Cafcass worker does, and how they help the judge understand what is best for you
- Why your voice is important, and how it contributes to decisions about your future
Why your voice matters
During your meeting with us, your Cafcass worker wants to get to know you and better understand:
- What life is like for you
- How you’re feeling
- What you hope for in the future
- What worries you
By sharing your thoughts, you help your Cafcass worker give the family court judge the best information about what is safe and in your best interests. What you say will always be listened to and taken seriously, as the film shows.
Who helped make this film
This film was created to help you feel prepared and comfortable before meeting us. It was developed with children and young people who have been through family court proceedings just like you and who were supported by Cafcass.
These children and young people are part of the Family Justice Young People’s Board (FJYPB). They help improve how children experience the family courts. Their ideas and reflections have helped shaped this film, so it feels real and supportive for anyone in a similar situation. We worked in partnership with animation company My Pockets to produce the film.
You can also watch the British Sign Language (BSL) version of Meeting Your Cafcass Worker.
More films in our Taking Me Seriously series
If you find this film helpful, you may also want to watch the other films in our Taking Me Seriously series:
- Letting you know how we help — This film explains Cafcass’ overall purpose and how we work with children and young people involved in the family court, explaining how we support them through proceedings. Watch on YouTube.
- Sharing recommendations with you — This film explains how we share recommendations with family court judges and how your voice is included within these.
Watch it here: Sharing recommendations with you
Together, these films are designed to help you better understand what is happening, why your views matter, and how we support you so that family court decisions are taken in your best interests.