When you are trying to sort out arrangements for your child after separation, it can feel as though there are several different systems involved at once. You may hear about mediation, Cafcass, safeguarding checks, supervised contact and court hearings, all while trying to keep things as calm and stable as possible for your child.
In practice, these services do not have to compete with each other. They often work best when they are used together, with each one playing a different role.
At Child Arrangement Resolutions, the service is built around supporting child-focused contact arrangements in a practical, structured way.
Where mediation fits in
Before making certain family court applications about children in England and Wales, you are usually expected to attend a MIAM, which stands for Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting, unless an exemption applies. The point of the MIAM is not to force you into agreement. It is there to help you understand whether mediation or another form of non-court dispute resolution could help resolve the issue without a full court process.
There is also a government-backed family mediation voucher scheme which can contribute up to £500 towards eligible mediation costs, although that voucher cannot be used for the MIAM itself.
Mediation can be particularly useful when the main problems are communication, routine or misunderstandings about practical arrangements. It gives you a setting to discuss matters such as school runs, handovers, weekends, holidays and decision-making in a calmer environment.
Where it works, it can reduce stress, reduce delay and reduce spending on legal steps. But mediation is not suitable in every case, especially where there are safeguarding concerns, a history of abuse, a long gap in contact, or very high conflict between the adults.
Where child arrangement services fit in
This is where child arrangement services can make a real difference. If direct arrangements feel too difficult or too risky at the start, a structured service can support contact while bigger issues are still being worked through.
Child Arrangement Resolutions explains that its supervisors remain neutral and independent, manage arrangements, and act as a conduit between parents and caregivers to reduce disputes and support regularity of contact.
That means mediation and child arrangement services can sit alongside each other. Mediation can help you discuss what the plan should be, while supervised or supported contact services can help make that plan happen safely in real life.
This can be especially helpful if your child has not seen one parent for some time, if trust between adults is low, or if the court or professionals want contact to be observed before it moves forward.
What Cafcass does
Cafcass has a very specific role. In private law children cases, Cafcass supports the family court by focusing on the child’s welfare. It is independent of both the courts and local authorities. In many cases, a Family Court Adviser will carry out safeguarding checks with the police and local authority and speak to the adults involved. That early information is then used to prepare safeguarding advice for the court.
It is important to understand that Cafcass does not replace a child arrangement service, and a child arrangement service does not replace Cafcass. Cafcass advises the court about welfare and risk. The court makes the legal decision. A service such as Child Arrangement Resolutions can then help put safe contact arrangements into practice.
CAR’s website states that its independent social work service can prepare Section 7 reports and can also provide supervised contact sessions during lengthy private law proceedings, allowing contact to continue while the case is ongoing.
Where the family court comes in
If agreement cannot be reached, or if the situation is too complex or serious to manage informally, the family court may need to decide. Applications about child arrangements are commonly made using a C100 form. The current court fee for that application is £263. In reality, the court process can take time.
Ministry of Justice statistics for April to June 2025 reported that private law cases took an average of 39 weeks to reach a final order, and the July to September 2025 statistics reported an average of 36 weeks.
Those figures show why practical support in the meantime matters. If you are waiting months for a final outcome, you may still need safe arrangements for time with your child. A supervised contact service can help fill that gap by offering structure, professional oversight and factual observation while the court process continues. That can also help the wider professionals involved understand how contact is working in practice rather than only on paper.
Why a joined-up approach can help
The family justice process is often less about one single service and more about how several services work together. Mediation can support discussion. Cafcass can provide an independent welfare perspective. The family court can make binding decisions. Child arrangement services can provide the day-to-day framework that helps those decisions work safely and consistently.
That joined-up approach can also reduce pressure on children. Instead of moving straight from conflict to a court order and hoping for the best, you may have a gradual process that allows contact to be introduced, monitored and reviewed.
Child Arrangement Resolutions says its service is designed to help families in Manchester, Cheshire and surrounding areas, with a focus on professional boundaries, safe environments and the child’s best interests.
What this means for you as a parent
If you are dealing with separation, it helps to think in stages rather than expecting one meeting or one hearing to solve everything. You may begin with mediation. You may then need Cafcass involvement if court proceedings start. You may also need supervised contact, supported handovers or an independent report so that progress can happen safely. None of that necessarily means matters have failed. It often means the situation needs more structure for a period of time.
For many families, the most useful support is practical. It is not just about legal terms. It is about having a service that can help reduce conflict at handover, create a neutral setting, support consistency for your child and provide clear information when professionals need it. That is where a specialist service can sit alongside mediation, Cafcass and the family court in a way that supports the bigger picture.
FAQs
Do you always have to try mediation before going to court?
Usually, yes, for many private law applications involving children you are expected to attend a MIAM before applying, unless an exemption applies. Examples can include urgency or certain domestic abuse-related situations. The MIAM is there to explain mediation and other non-court options, even if the case later goes to court.
Does Cafcass decide what happens to your child?
No. Cafcass advises the court and focuses on your child’s welfare, but it does not make the final decision. The judge or magistrates decide what order, if any, should be made.
When might supervised contact be used?
Supervised contact may be used when there are safeguarding concerns, when contact is being reintroduced after a gap, or when professionals want contact to take place in a structured and neutral environment. Child Arrangement Resolutions states that it supports these kinds of arrangements through supervised contact and related services.
How much does it cost to apply to court for a child arrangements matter?
The current fee for a C100 application is £263. Other costs can also arise depending on whether you use mediation, legal advice, expert reports or specialist support services.
Can child arrangement services still help if your case is already in court?
Yes. Child Arrangement Resolutions states that it can provide supervised contact alongside private law proceedings and can also support Section 7 reporting through its independent social work service. That can be particularly useful while you are waiting for the court to reach a final decision.
Speak to Child Arrangement Resolutions
If you need practical support while child arrangements are being discussed through mediation, Cafcass or the family court, contact Child Arrangement Resolutions to talk through the next steps and find a safe, structured way forward for your family.