What is Pathfinder?
Pathfinder is a reformed approach to the Child Arrangement Programme in private law children cases. It is focused on safety, trauma awareness and uses a problem solving approach. One of the key features of Pathfinder is its child-centric approach, which ensures that children are given a voice in the process, allowing their feelings and concerns to be heard and addressed.
The Pathfinder pilot scheme started in February 2022 in Dorset and North Wales and following its success progressed to Birmingham in May 2024. Jayne Gregg, Associate in our family law team explains the process.
What are the objectives of Pathfinder?
- To improve the experience of all parties in the family court environment, particularly for parents who have been victims of domestic abuse and their children.
- To improve the experience for children participating in the court process, where appropriate.
- To provide a more efficient court process which reduces delay whilst still ensuring all orders made are safe.
- To reduce the number of cases returning to court.
- To improve communication between the Family Court, local authorities and the Police and the way allegations of domestic abuse and other risks of harm are dealt with.
Process
Following issue of the application for a child arrangements order, the first stage is the preparation of a Child Impact Report by CAFCASS (Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service). This includes safeguarding checks, initial parent engagement, direct or indirect child engagement, risk assessments and consideration of any other court cases involving the child.
Following the preparation of a Child Impact Report, further work or investigations may be ordered by the court. Further work can include fact finding hearings, drug and alcohol testing or some periods of observed supervised contact. If an agreement cannot be reached at this stage, the court will order a Decision Hearing.
At the Decision Hearing the court will investigate issues that are not agreed. The court will encourage parties to focus on the best interests of the child and can exercise its discretion as to what orders to make. The court will also decide how its decisions will be shared with the child. At this hearing the court has the power to make a final order if it has all the required information and it feels it is appropriate to do so.
In some circumstances the court may make interim orders and the case will be returned to court for a Review Hearing three to twelve months after any interim order is made to assist the court in understanding any safeguarding issues resulting from the interim order. If all is progressing well, the court may make a final order.
If a final order cannot be made at a Decision Hearing the court may order that a Final Hearing should take place and orders will be imposed on the parents following the hearing.
Get in touch
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For pragmatic, no-nonsense advice and practical solutions on how our team can help you with your family matter, please get in touch on 0121 746 3360 or submit an online enquiry and we will get in touch with you shortly.
