As of January 2026, family courts in the Hampshire area became one of the 10 pilot areas trialling the new Pathfinder scheme for children's court cases.
Pathfinder is expected to revamp the family courts by delivering faster outcomes, reducing delays in the court system and ensuring the child’s voice is at the centre of the matter.
Under the new scheme, the first task for the court is to order a Child Impact Report to be prepared by a social worker. This is prior to any court hearing, allowing the judge to have a clearer understanding of the child’s needs, wants and circumstances and make informed decisions in the best interests of the child from the outset.
The Child Impact Report is written by either Cafcass or the local authority and comes in two parts.
The first part observes the child’s presentation, environment and interactions with family members and others. With the help of home visits and direct conversations, it seeks to capture the voice of the child. The report will also include recommendations for the child’s welfare that reflect their views and needs, providing a professional assessment of what is happening for the child and the impact on their wellbeing and development.
The second part of the report can be ordered by the court if any follow-up is needed to address any changes in the child’s circumstances.
After the Child Impact Report has been provided to the court, the court will then schedule a Decision Hearing. Within this Decision Hearing, the outcome could go any number of ways, such as:
- The court could make a final order, either by agreement between the parties or of its own motion, based on the information in front of them; or
- The court could order a Fact-Finding hearing (a mini trial within the proceedings) to consider any allegations of domestic abuse or substance abuse and consider whether, on the balance of probabilities, those allegations are true and to what extent, if any, they have any bearing on the outcome of the matter; or
- The court could order more work to be done (e.g. social worker’s assistance or parenting classes) before scheduling another hearing when a final determination is made.
Pathfinder is very much in its infancy, and therefore, it is not always easy to predict at the outset what direction a case could take.
If you need help understanding the new procedure, our solicitors are on hand to help guide you through the process.
Please call 01256 844888, email enquiries@lambbrooks.com or speak to our online chat assistant at any time of day.
