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Spurgeons and Dad.Info doesn’t investigate reports of abuse or neglect. But below, you can find advice on who to contact if you have concerns about a child or young person.
Reporting a concern
It can be difficult to know what to do if you think a child is at risk. It’s important to remember that if you’ve spotted things that don’t seem right, others will have too. Speaking up can make sure that child gets help as soon as possible.
The sooner you contact your local children’s social care duty team, the quicker they can act. They’re available 24 hours a day, and can make an anonymous report if that feels safer. If a child is in immediate danger, please call the police straight away by dialling 999.
Report child abuse or neglect to your local council
Use these links to get in touch with your local council:
You don’t have to use form C120, it’s just a way of keeping your statement on point, but it’s perfectly ok for you to write your own. You could use the questions on the form as a rough guide to help you keep on point.
I’ll find the links and post them for you.
Try not to stress out, the courts understand that statements, written by applicants without a solicitors help, might no be as professional.
Just keep to the facts, try and keep it in chronological order and definitely keep it child focused. If the order has asked you to respond to certain aspects of your case, try and stick to that.
It’s usual to write out a rough draft of your statement a few times,making amendments and tidying it up each time, before you get a statement that you are happy with.
Here's some links to info about how to structure statements and also a template that you can use.
www.thecustodyminefield.com/flapp/positionstatements.html
Template ~
www.thecustodyminefield.com/flapp/statement.html
A good website with info in plain english, some court videos to watch too.
www.mfjc.co.uk
Thanks alot mojo,
That was very helpful ,
Ine strange question,
I do write poam somtimes and i wrote somthing for my son,
Is that ok to add it to the final statment,
I really can't wait to have a positive outcome.
As lovely as that is, I don't think you should include it in your statement.
Thanks for your advice ,
I was so excited to put it but i will listen to your advice and not do it,
Any reason why?
I can't even attach it to the end of my statment and just mention it???
It isn't really relevant, it's a lovely thought though. If you really want to attach it to the end of your statement, of course you can... it's your statement at the end of the day. I just don't think it would serve any purpose in terms of your case.
I agree with mojo - the court papers ideally need to be as concise as possible, so it's better that any content is directly relevant to your case.
Hello every one.
I finally got the final judgement after a long wait.
The contact moved from supervised contact to supported contact and still fortnightly and it was final hearing.
But judge said he expect with time contact will increase if i continue to behave proprly and contact is good as it is with my kid
It's not what i wanted at all of course as i asked for shared residency but judge think i want to take things far so quickly. But i actually been over a year in a supervised contact centre so i don't know why he said i want to take things quickly. It's actually very very slow.
I don't know what to do now ?
Just accept the fortnightly supported contact??
Or appeal this decision?
And if i accept it and i want to increase the contact what should i do ?
Do i have to go to court and apply again for child arrangement order??
And how long i should wait untill i apply to the court again.
Your advice will be much appreciated.
Many thanks in advance.
Hi there
I understand that you're not satisfied with the result, but you've come some way from where you started, at one point you were contemplating having to attend a DVPP course for six months. However it must be frustrating for you that he whole process is so slow.
Is the supported contact in a contact centre, or with a trusted third party?
Unfortunately it's not possible to appeal a decision if you don't agree with it. You can only appeal if you think there has been a procedural error during the case.
If after about six months, the mother won't agree to progress contact, you can make another application to have the order varied. Let's hope she will see sense and work with you and see that it's in the child's best interests to have a good relationship with you.
All the best
Thanks alot mojo for your respond ,
Supported contact will be at supported contact centre fortinglty but the judge didn't mention for how many hours,
I used to see my kid for 1 hour at supervised contact centre which i ised to pay for but now judge said that to move to supported as recommended by cafcass but not mentioned how many hours,
I e-mailed the court today to ask the judge how many hours to aviod any dispute between me and the mother.
The centre open from 10am untill 1pm and from 2pm untill 5pm so i kindly asked for a minimum 3 hours.
I didn't want to ask the mother how many hours because i know she will say just 1 hour and the centre will listen to the resident parent.
What do you think about that mojo please.
It doesn't seem that she will see any sense any soon so definitely if she doesn't agree to increase contact i will go back to court with new application.
Are you sure 6 month is reasonable time to go nack to court not before ?
And the court will definitely accept my application and look into again?
Many thanks in advance.
I think it was a good idea to email the court and ask.
Six months is generally the length of time that’s seen as appropriate, before making a follow up application. You could try again at 4 months, but bear in mind what the judge said to you, about you wanting things to progress far too quickly.
If you wait six months that would be 18 months in a contact centre, which could be argued is long enough, it’s not unreasonable to expect that after a further period of supported contact, that this should progress to the position where you have your child without the need for any supervision.
As you know, it’s impossible to predict court outcomes, but if you can show that you have made attempts to get agreement with the mother to increase your contact, and she has refused, it’s logical that you would ask for the court to help.
I will wait for a 6 month then and hopefully that the mother willl agree to move it forward if not then i will have to go to the court again.
Let's hope for good and hopefully things will get better with time.
Thanks alot mojo for your effort.