The Pathfinder Programme - Now Live: A New Approach to Private Law Children Cases
What Is Pathfinder? A Shift in the Way Family Courts Work
The Pathfinder programme, originally a pilot initiative aimed at improving how family courts handle private law disputes (especially those involving children), has now grown into a major reform effort with significant national reach.
At A Father’s Friend, we welcome this evolution and continue to provide tailored legal guidance and support for fathers navigating family court – particularly those affected by Pathfinder’s roll-out.
In this article, we break down what Pathfinder is, how it has expanded, and what it means for you if you're currently involved in or considering family court proceedings.
Why was the Pathfinder programme introduced?
Families applying for child arrangements have been experiencing long delays in the court process, with multiple court hearings which increased stress and costs and insufficient focus on domestic abuse and safeguarding risks at an early stage. The process felt highly adversarial, even where parents simply needed some guidance.
Research and reviews showed that delay and repeated hearings could be damaging for children. There were also concerns that risks to children and parents, particularly in cases involving domestic abuse, were not always identified or addressed quickly enough.
The Pathfinder programme was designed to respond to these issues by creating a more child-focused, problem-solving approach, where the court has better information from the start and can make safer, more timely decisions.
Fast Initial Screening and Early Safeguarding
One of the strengths of Pathfinder is its front-loaded process. Within just 12 hours of an application being submitted, the courts assess whether there are any safeguarding concerns or local authority involvement.
This quick response reduces delays and ensures that urgent issues are addressed early. It also allows cases with no serious risk to move ahead faster - potentially reducing stress and cost.
If you’re a father concerned about your child’s safety, or worried that allegations may be raised against you, this early safeguarding process can be critical. We can help you understand what’s being assessed and how to respond effectively if concerns are flagged.
A Stronger Voice for Children – Understanding Child Impact Reports
A major innovation in Pathfinder is the use of Child Impact Reports, prepared by Cafcass early in the case. These reports bring a child’s views and experiences into the process right from the start.
This doesn't mean asking a child to "choose sides." Instead, the report reflects:
How the child is coping emotionally
Their views and wishes (where age-appropriate)
Whether the current situation is impacting their wellbeing
Any risks the child may be exposed to
For many fathers, the Child Impact Report can be a powerful tool. If you've been a consistent, loving presence in your child’s life, this may be recognised in the report - especially if your child expresses comfort and safety with you.
At A Father’s Friend, we support dads in understanding how these reports are created, what they mean, and how to prepare for discussions with Cafcass that inform the report.
Shorter Case Timelines Mean Less Stress
In the traditional court model, private law cases could drag on for 29 weeks or more. Pathfinder data shows that this has been reduced to an average of 18 weeks.
That means decisions are made faster, and children are spared long periods of uncertainty. For fathers seeking contact or parenting time, shorter timelines also reduce the risk of long separations and emotional distance.
The Pathfinder programme is in two stages:
Stage 1
Information gathering and assessment – this involves gathering and the preparation of an assessment to understand the impact of issues in the case on the children involved. A Child Impact Report (CIR) is developed which summarises the key evidence and issues for the court. In some cases, independent domestic services will assess risk which will be included in the CIR.
Stage 2
Interventions and/or decisions hearing – the court reviews the CIR and decides how to proceed. This may involve:
Recommending non-court resolution
Further investigation of issues
Interim orders (such as periods of supervised contact)
Holding a decisions hearing and making a final order
The Pathfinder model aims to improve the experiences of children and families by:
Improving the family court experience for all parties, particularly parent survivors of domestic abuse and their children; improving children’s experience of and (appropriate) participation in the court process.
Adopting a multi-agency approach to improve coordination between the family court and agencies, such as local authorities and the police, and the way allegations of domestic abuse and other risks of harm are dealt with.
Deliver a more efficient court process which reduces delays whilst ensuring that all orders are safe and appropriate to the case.
Reducing re-traumatisation of domestic abuse survivors, including children, that may be experienced during proceedings.
What does this mean for parents?
If your case is being dealt with under the Pathfinder programme, you may notice that things move more quickly at the beginning. You might be asked to provide information or documents earlier than you expected, and you may hear from Cafcass / Local Authority sooner than in the traditional process.
If there are concerns about domestic abuse or safeguarding, additional support services may be involved to ensure that the court has a clear and accurate understanding of any risks.
While this early stage can feel more intensive, it is designed to prevent cases from becoming drawn out and to ensure that any arrangements made are safe and, in your child’s best interests.
Recent analysis by the Ministry of Justice found that many families have a positive experience of the Pathfinder Programme, but there were negative reports from some, feeling that some social workers, Family Court Advisors, judges or magistrates have downplayed or ignored concerns.
Children and parents reported clear improvements in capturing the child’s perspective in the Child Impact Report, though there were mixed experiences when it came to the children’s wishes and perspectives being considered in final outcomes.
Need Support Navigating Pathfinder? A Father’s Friend Can Help
Navigating family court process is tough - especially when you're trying to do the right thing for your child while dealing with emotional strain, legal jargon, and uncertainty.
At A Father’s Friend, we provide:
Personalised legal guidance tailored to your individual circumstances
Support preparing for Cafcass interviews and safeguarding process
Help understanding Child Impact Reports
Support preparing for - and attending Decision Hearings at Family Court with you.
🔗 Useful resources:
📞 Contact us today or visit www.afathersfriend.co.uk to access more information, book a support session, or join our growing community.
We believe every father deserves a fair voice and a chance to build a lasting bond with their child. Pathfinder is changing the system - and A Father’s Friend is here to make sure you don’t navigate it alone.
