Cafcass champions the interests of children involved in family proceedings, advising the family courts in England on what it considers to be in the best interests of individual children Cafcass was set up on 1st April 2001 under the provisions of the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act which brought together the family court services previously provided by the Family Court Welfare Service, the Guardian ad Litem Service and the Children’s Division of the Official Solicitor’s Office Cafcass is independent of the courts, social services, education and health authorities and all similar agencies Cafcass Commissioned Child Contact Services We operate within the law set by Parliament and under the rules and directions of the family courts