Insights from the Private Law Pathfinder Pilot

The evaluation of the Private Law Pathfinder Pilot in Dorset and North Wales marks an important step in rethinking how family courts operate. The pilot set out to do something ambitious: make the process less adversarial, more investigative, and above all, child-focused.

What stood out?

• Children’s voices were brought closer to the heart of proceedings through tools like the Child Impact Report.
• Many parents reported positive experiences with Cafcass and the judiciary saying they felt 'heard'.
• Direct involvement of domestic abuse services was a significant improvement on previous processes.

But the findings also highlight areas where more work is needed:

• Trauma-informed practice is still inconsistent—families reported feeling disbelieved or unsupported.
• Multi-agency collaboration remains patchy, particularly around safeguarding concerns.
• The review stage, designed to check how arrangements were working, was rarely implemented, leaving many families feeling abandoned after the final order.

I have used the Pathfinder model in several cases now, and the difference is clear. It significantly speeds up the process, which is a huge benefit for families. It also humanises the process—by building a clearer picture of the personalities involved at an early stage, it becomes much easier to make the right case management decisions and interim orders. That said, it relies heavily on strong, consistent work from Cafcass. When that piece works well, the whole system feels more joined-up and child-centred. When it doesn’t, the benefits can be undermined.

As national rollout is considered, the challenge will be balancing efficiency with empathy, and ensuring consistent Cafcass resourcing is available in every area. A faster process is welcome, but not at the expense of giving families the time and space to feel heard and safe.