A Court can make a Family Assistance Order (FAO) as a means of providing social work support to families experiencing difficulties after separation or divorce. The Court conveys a duty on a CAFCASS Officer or Social Worker to befriend, advise and assist anyone named in the order. This is often in relation to facilitating and monitoring contact.
The order can include the parents or guardian of the children, the children themselves, and anyone with whom the children live or who are named in a Contact Order allowing contact with the children.
No. This type of order is only made when a Judge considers it to be appropriate, rather than when a parent makes a formal application.
It may be possible during the course of an application for another form of order, such as a Contact or Contact Enforcement order, to ask the Court to consider making a Family Assistance Order.
For up to 12 months, or shorter if a time period is specified in the order.
They may refer matters back to the Court and request a variation to any Child Arrangements, Prohibited Steps Specific Issue Order or historic Contact or Residence order that is in force in respect of the children named in the Family Assistance Order. The decision as to whether to vary the order remains with the judge. Neither CAFCASS (nor Social Services) can vary or suspend a court order themselves (sometimes they need reminding of this!).
Also refer to CAFCASS's Family Assistance Order Guidance: