A new report calls for the creation of a Commissioner for Separated Families to represent families in government consultations, coordinate “fragmented” policy and keep the welfare of children at the heart of provision.
Currently, four million children are growing up in separated families in the UK.
The Family Solutions Group (FSG)’s Putting Children First report says the absence of coordinated policy and a public voice for separating families results in risk of harm to children from escalating parental conflict.
It proposes that a Commissioner for Separated Families would oversee public, private and not-for-profit services, promoting consistency and a child-centred approach.
The report says: “If we reshape our approach to truly put children first, we can change the experience of separation for the next generation of children.”
The FSG highlights the potential harm of defaulting to legal processes and adversarial language during separation, calling for legal professionals to adopt child-inclusive practice.
Charlotte Bradley, senior consultant at Kingsley Napley, a co-author of the report, said: “We all know the lasting damage children suffer from protracted parental conflict, toxic divorces and bitter family separations.
“Family lawyers have long been expected to conduct their cases in a way that minimises conflict. However, the nature of the traditional adversarial system has sometimes worked against this.”
The FSG – a voluntary multi-disciplinary group of professionals – also calls on family law professionals to share a new letter, signed by The Children’s Commissioner for England Dame Rachel de Souza, with separating parents.
The FSG undertook a survey in 2025 of almost 550 family professionals working with separated families.
It found that an overwhelming majority, 92% of respondents, agree or strongly agree that family law professionals have a particular responsibility to the children of the family, not only the parent clients with whom they have a contractual relationship.
Most family law professionals (94%) also agreed they should have a responsibility to mitigate conflict between separating parents.
Only a third (34%) believe that the voice of the child is currently considered.
The survey also revealed most family law professionals (91%) are in favour of mandating training on reducing the harmful effects on children of parental conflict, hearing the voice of the child, the benefits of Parenting Programmes, and in interdisciplinary working.
Notably, 79% agreed that family law professionals should have reflective supervision by an external trained specialist.
Edward Cooke, managing director of Edward Cooke Family Law, commented:
“Our survey shows a consensus is building that the time has come for a reappraisal of the way family law is practised.”
He added:
“Policy makers want a less adversarial, solutions-based approach to family law issues. Our report shows that family lawyers and parents agree and that attitudes are shifting accordingly.
“In an ideal world, we recommend family professionals should be required to demonstrate ongoing training on essential non-legal skills every three years as part of their continuing professional obligations, as mediators need to do.”
