Andy Hyde is an experienced Child and Family Social Worker, Life Coach and Family Court Mentor supporting separated parents with child arrangements, co-parenting and the challenges that can arise before, during and after Family Court proceedings.
Andy has worked in social work for almost 40 years, including 22 years with Cafcass. After leaving Cafcass, he returned to working directly with parents and children and now combines his social work experience with mentoring and coaching to help families find practical, child-focused ways forward.
Watch My Conversation with Andy Hyde
Cafcass Explained: What Parents Need to Know | Former Cafcass Social Worker Andy Hyde
In this episode of Family Court Conversations, Andy talks openly about his professional journey, what he has learned since returning to direct work with families, and some of the difficulties parents face when navigating separation and the Family Court.
We discuss Cafcass, parental conflict, co-parenting and parallel parenting, litigants in person, McKenzie Friends, Parenting Plans and why support may still be needed after a court order has been made.
About Andy Hyde
Andy began working with children and families in the 1980s and later qualified as a professional social worker.
He spent 22 years with Cafcass. Earlier in his Cafcass career he worked directly as a Family Court Adviser, while much of his later career involved training, coaching, auditing and observing professional practice.
He also trained as a life coach and, after leaving Cafcass, chose to return to direct work with parents and families.
During our interview, Andy explained that this gave him a different perspective on the Family Court system. Reading reports and case files is one thing; working alongside a parent experiencing the process personally can reveal much more about the frustration, anxiety and practical difficulties involved.
That combination of social work experience and coaching now sits at the centre of his work.
Coaching Through Separation and Family Change
Not every family problem needs to begin with a court application.
Andy works with separated and divorcing parents who may need help making sense of what has happened, improving communication or deciding how they are going to parent from two different households.
His approach is not simply about telling parents what arrangements they should make. Coaching can help a parent step away from the immediate conflict, think about what they can control and keep decisions focused on the child.
During our conversation, Andy repeatedly returned to the importance of humility, listening and trying to understand the other parent’s perspective.
He also made the point that being a former partner and being a parent are not the same thing. A relationship may have ended badly while the child can still have an important relationship with both parents, where it is safe for them to do so.
Co-Parenting and Parallel Parenting
Andy supports both co-parenting and parallel parenting.
Where parents are able to communicate constructively, co-parenting can involve sharing information, discussing important decisions and finding workable arrangements together.
Where conflict is high, closer cooperation may not always be realistic or appropriate. Parallel parenting can provide greater separation between the adults while still allowing the child to maintain their relationships and routines.
Andy’s focus is therefore not on forcing every separated family into the same model. The aim is to find an arrangement that is safe, realistic and reduces the child’s exposure to continuing adult conflict.
Parenting Plans – Making Arrangements Work in Real Life
One particularly useful part of Andy’s work is helping parents create Parenting Plans.
A court order can establish the main Child Arrangements, but family life is more detailed than an order can realistically cover.
During the podcast Andy explained:
“Courts cannot or do not want to micromanage families.”
A Parenting Plan can help parents work through the practical detail themselves: not simply when the child spends time with each parent, but how the parents communicate, how future changes will be handled and what they will do when disagreements arise.
Andy described this work as more than agreeing dates. The process can help parents think about how they are going to parent together after separation and how they can resolve future problems without immediately returning to court.
This can be useful before proceedings, while arrangements are being considered, or after a final order where parents need to turn the court’s decision into something that actually works in everyday family life.
Support During and After Family Court Proceedings
Andy also mentors parents who are already involved in Private Law Family Court proceedings.
His role draws on his experience of social work, Cafcass and the Family Court rather than replacing the work of a solicitor. He can work alongside parents who already have legal representation or with litigants in person who need practical support understanding and navigating the process.
Importantly, his work does not necessarily end when proceedings finish.
Children grow older, circumstances change and arrangements that looked straightforward when an order was made can become difficult months or years later.
Andy believes there is an important role for post-court support, including communication work, co-parenting support and Parenting Plans, to help families make existing arrangements work rather than automatically returning to litigation.
Andy’s Changing View of McKenzie Friends
Andy has also undertaken McKenzie Friend work himself.
One of the more interesting moments in our conversation was his explanation that his view of McKenzie Friends has changed considerably since his time working within Cafcass.
Speaking about parents who do not have a solicitor or barrister, Andy said:
“I certainly would recommend now a McKenzie Friend. And I wouldn’t have said that 10, 20 years ago.”
When I asked what a good McKenzie Friend can bring to a case, his answer began very simply:
“Support, support and support.”
For Andy, part of the value is having someone alongside a parent in what can be an unfamiliar and intimidating environment, while also helping them understand the process and maintain a balanced approach.
Contact Andy Hyde
Andy operates independently through Family Court Mentoring / Hyde Family Coaching.
Website: https://familycourtmentoring.com/
Email: andyshyde@gmail.com
Telephone: 07777 134157
Parents can contact Andy directly to discuss their circumstances, the type of support they are looking for and whether his service is suitable for them.
Andy Hyde is an independent professional featured in the Everyman Justice McKenzie Friend & Family Court Professionals Directory.
Every professional featured in the directory operates independently. Inclusion does not create an employment, partnership or supervisory relationship with Everyman Justice.