How to Prepare for Cafcass Cymru Without a Solicitor

You can absolutely prepare for the Cafcass Cymru safeguarding call without a solicitor — and most parents do, because legal aid isn't available for private child arrangement cases unless there's documented domestic abuse. The key is understanding what the Welsh Family Proceedings Officer is actually assessing during that 20-minute call, so you present factual, child-focused information rather than an emotional account of your relationship breakdown.

What the Safeguarding Call Actually Is

After you file a C100 application for a Child Arrangements Order in Wales, Cafcass Cymru contacts both parents by phone before the first hearing. This isn't a custody interview or a test you can fail. It's a structured information-gathering exercise that feeds into the Child Impact Report — the document the judge reads before your first court appearance.

The Family Proceedings Officer is assessing three things:

1. Safety — are there any safeguarding concerns involving domestic abuse, substance misuse, mental health issues, or risks to the child?
2. The child's current situation — where the child lives, their school, daily routine, and any special needs
3. Each parent's proposals — what arrangements you're seeking and whether you're focused on the child's welfare or on winning against your co-parent

The call typically lasts 15–20 minutes. It's conversational, not adversarial. But the information you provide shapes the court's first impression of your case, and first impressions in the Pathfinder system carry weight because the model is designed to resolve cases within two to four months.

What to Prepare Before the Call

A solicitor would charge £150–£500 per hour to help you prepare for this call. Here's what that preparation actually involves — and what you can do yourself:

Your child's factual profile:

• Full name, date of birth, school name and year group
• Any medical conditions, allergies, or special educational needs
• Current living arrangements — where they sleep on which nights
• Daily routine — school drop-off/pick-up, extracurricular activities, bedtime

Your proposed arrangements:

• What schedule you're requesting (specific days and overnight counts, not vague "50/50" language)
• How handovers would work (location, time, who transports)
• Holiday and school break proposals
• How you'll handle communication with your child when they're with the other parent

A factual summary of the current situation:

• When you separated and what the arrangements have been since
• Whether there's an existing informal agreement
• What you've tried to resolve things (mediation, direct discussion)
• Any specific concerns about the child's welfare — stated factually, not emotionally

What to Say and What to Avoid

Do:

• Lead with what your child needs, not what you want
• Use specific, factual language: "The children are at school until 3:15pm on weekdays and I'm proposing pickup from school on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and alternate weekends" rather than "I want more time"
• Mention any parenting courses you've completed or are willing to attend, including the Working Together for Children (WT4C) programme
• Acknowledge the other parent's relationship with the child where it's positive
• Be honest about any past incidents — the officer will check police and social services records

Avoid:

• Turning the call into a character attack on your ex-partner
• Using the call to vent about the relationship breakdown
• Exaggerating or fabricating concerns — Cafcass Cymru cross-references with police databases and social services records, and inconsistencies undermine your credibility
• Refusing to answer questions — the officer records non-cooperation
• Discussing child maintenance or financial disputes — the safeguarding call is about child welfare, not money

How the Pathfinder Model Changes Your Approach

In the standard English system, the safeguarding call feeds into a report that may not be discussed in detail until a later hearing. In Wales, the Pathfinder model uses early information gathering more actively — the Child Impact Report goes to the judge before the first hearing, and the judge uses a problem-solving approach from that first appointment.

This means your safeguarding call has more immediate influence on how your case proceeds. A clear, child-focused presentation during the call can set the tone for a faster resolution. A disorganised or adversarial one can flag your case for more intensive court involvement.

The practical implication: prepare as if your proposals will be put in front of a judge within weeks, because in the Welsh system, they will be.

Common Mistakes Self-Representing Parents Make

Treating the call as a one-off event. The safeguarding call is the first step in an ongoing assessment. What you say is recorded and may be referenced at hearings months later. Be consistent and truthful.

Not having their schedule worked out. Saying "I want shared custody" without specifying which days, how many overnights, and how holidays split tells the officer you haven't thought it through. Arriving with a concrete proposal — even if it changes later — demonstrates that you're taking the process seriously.

Ignoring the CMS connection. While you shouldn't discuss child maintenance during the safeguarding call, you should understand how your proposed schedule maps to CMS overnight bands before the call. If you're proposing 52 or more overnights per year, that crosses the first shared care threshold and affects maintenance calculations. Knowing this helps you propose a schedule you can actually commit to long-term.

Not preparing for difficult questions. If there's been police involvement, social services contact, or any history of domestic abuse, the officer will ask about it. Have a factual, non-defensive response prepared.

Who This Is For

• Parents who've filed (or are about to file) a C100 in Wales and are waiting for the Cafcass Cymru call
• Self-representing litigants who want to present their case clearly without paying for solicitor preparation
• Parents going through the Pathfinder process for the first time who don't know what to expect

Who This Is NOT For

• Parents with active domestic abuse concerns who should seek specialist legal advice through the legal aid exception
• Cases where Cafcass Cymru has already been appointed for a full Section 7 report — that's a different, more detailed process

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if I say the wrong thing during the Cafcass Cymru call?

The safeguarding call isn't a trap. The officer isn't trying to catch you out. If you make a factual error, you can correct it. If you forget something, you can follow up in writing. What matters is your overall approach — are you focused on your child's needs, or are you focused on attacking your ex-partner? A parent who says "I'm not sure about the exact dates but I can check" is far more credible than one who makes confident claims that don't match the records.

Can I refuse the safeguarding call?

Technically yes, but it's strongly inadvisable. Refusal is noted in the report and the judge sees it. The court proceeds with whatever information it has — which means only your co-parent's version of events. Self-representing parents sometimes refuse the call out of anxiety, but the call is designed to help you, not test you.

Should I prepare written notes for the call?

Absolutely. Having a written summary of your child's routine, your proposed schedule, and any concerns you want to raise ensures you cover everything in the 20 minutes. The officer won't mind if you're reading from notes — it shows preparation. The Wales Child Custody & Parenting Plan Guide includes a Cafcass Cymru preparation worksheet specifically designed for this purpose.

What if the other parent lies during their call?

The officer speaks to both parents separately and looks for inconsistencies. They also check police and social services databases. If your account is factual and consistent, and the other parent's isn't, that will be evident in the report. Don't try to pre-empt what your co-parent might say — focus on presenting your own case clearly.

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