Baroness Pitkeathley, chair of the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service, spelled out the body's determination to tackle the growing problem at a public meeting last week.
Margaret Wilson, chair of the Greater London Family Panel and deputy chair of the Magistrates' Association's Family Proceedings Committee, said reports should be produced within ten to 12 weeks but in parts of London it was taking up to 20 weeks.
Courts in the Black Country were experiencing delays of up to 26 weeks, she added.
Cafcass's new chief executive, Anthony Douglas, admitted the service was "patchy", but added: "We're going to put our remaining resources for this year into trying to address that.
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