[Solved] CAFCASS

A section 37 report is slightly different to what you have described. 37 is where the local authority ate invited to consider whether care proceedings should be initiated.

Does your sons order say Section 37 or Section 7?

I would say it is more likely an S7. Let me know and I’ll come back to you - I’ve been through two S7s and a S37 myself personally and also worked on cases where they have been undertaken.

The letter from Cafcass says
Application for CAO spend time with, specific issue S8 in “name of town” county court and family court.

Thanks.

I'm not sure where the mention of an S37 comes in....

I'm pretty sure you will be able to speak, as it's in your home and you have had a lot to do with the child. I would try and allow your son to lead conversations but I don't see any reason why you shouldn't comment. When my son had a home visit, he was living with us and I was able to join with the discussions.

I would have pictures to hand showing how happy the child is, if your like us we have framed pictures of our grandchildren around our home.

I would suggest you print off the relevant texts, but don't overload the officer with them, it's enough to show a few from each year, so include the most relevant ones.

When they interviewed my grandson, he was living with us, and the officer asked us to leave the room whilst she spoke to him, but I have known mothers insisting that they were present when a child was interviewed.

Just be yourselves, be open and honest and child centred. Make sure your house is child friendly and if the child has their own room, ask if they would like to see it. Again the social worker that came to us inspected our house.

Don't bad mouth the mother, that doesn't mean you can't voice concerns, but keep it about the child, express that the sudden suspension of contact must have been distressing for the child and share how involved you have always been in the little ones life.

All the best

Thanks Mojo.
Yes we have lots (and lots) of photos of our grandson around the house and he has his own room, which is really sad to look at every day over the past year as filled with his toys and favorite bed cover.
I think he will be interviewed (grandson) as his mothers house, as school is closed until 6th September, someone suggested he might be interviewed as school (which would be preferred in our case).

we would never bad mouth his mum, especially as our grandson loves his mum very much and she is a good mum. the problem with her is she just wants complete control over every situation, which has caused the problems in the past. She has stated she wants to ruin my sons life and it will always be "do as I say or I will stop you seeing your son" - which she has now done. It is such as shame as my Grandson loved coming over to our house and has always been a HUGE part of our family life.

The text messages i have are more along the lines of stating - pick (grandson name) at such time, can you have (grandson name) as i am working, take him swimming. Text that include my sons name stating pick up and drop off times and allowing contact in the past. I have a few that state things like if he doesnt pay CM by such date she will stop contact. There are a few nasty ones calling my son names etc.

One questions i do have is. We have 2 x woodburners in our house, do we need fire guards for these? They are rarely on, as we have central heating as well. We have stairgates, which we dont use, do you think I should put these back up, my grandson is 5 now and can safetly use the stairs?

Thanks - feel like this is a big chance to turn things around from such a bad FOF and they can see we are just a normal happy loving family.

Thanks
Nannykit

quick update - Visit is on Wednesday.

Wish us luck... we are prepared and totally child focused.

I would go with the fire guards, as the child isn’t there it isn’t necessary to have them up, but make them aware that you are aware and have them for when the wood burners are in use. The stair gates are not so important, but as you have them, it wouldn’t hurt to err on the side of caution.

Best of luck on Wednesday.

If you have the fireguards, I would be inclined to use them just to prevent him falling against them accidentally even when they aren't alight - I assume the are cast iron, so they are pretty solid.

CAFCASS office here now. I have been told cannot speak to me only my son due to DPA. So I am upstairs with the dog.

They didn’t want to see the house and my grandson room. She said not a home check.

She looks very stern..... worried.

That’s such a shame.... hope it went ok.

Really was not child focused at all. Didn't want to see photos or text. Didnt want to talk about the 4 years we as a family have spent with the child. Brushed off any questions about my grandson, saying it will be in the report.
She was only interested in the DV claims and kept saying "Well the JUDGE has found this incident to be true" The Judge found you to be a abusive, controlling man.
Asked my son if he would attend a DV 6 week programme (which he said he would).

My son fought his corner, kept bringing up his son, explaining the witness was his EX best friend, that the alleged DV was over 4 years ago and he has seen his son every other weekend since this Alleged DV. The officer was not very responsive and just typed into her computer.

My son said "if she had a tattoo across her chest saying "Fight for Women's rights" he wouldn't be surprised.

He is very deflated after this meeting and feels he is never going to see his son again. I asked how he rated the meeting out of 10 and he said about minus 100.

I'm so sorry to hear that Nannykit....it's not personal, she doesn't know whether the allegations are true or not, and all she has to go on is the judges decision that they were. He's so young and it must be a struggle for him, hopefully he has picked himself and dusted himself off... most of us have been there, it's tough so thank goodness hes got you to support him.

Make sure he isn't all consumed by this process, that he takes time out and does some things that he enjoys to take his mind off it all.

All the best