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Hi all posted sometime ago that i would be going to court to try get residency of my son as he lives with me full time and due to his mum playing games and not keeping arrangements i thought court would be the best option
Ok so we went to court and cafcass recommended a section 37 report (12 week risk assesment)
Ok so ive never been a angle back in the day as im sure alot of us have a past but this social worker is being a right * towards me
I used to drink a fair bit few years back but nothing has ever effected my son
now as he is living with me all she keeps going on about is drinking drinking drinking all the time
i used to have a few cans in the evening when my son is in bed (i mean how is that really that bad everybody likes a wind down in the evening)
i now do not even drink when i have my son only just when i go to a mates maybe at the weekends when my son is with his mum, but still the way the social worker is looking at it im a alcoholic which is far from the truth
im just scared and need advise about this section 37 report we are back in court next week, i fear that if the social worker says im a risk to my son (which im not and never have been) he could go into care,
i do everything for my son got him in nursery speech n language as he does not talk well at the moment but coming on leeps and bounds
id never put my son in harmsway but from what the social worker keeps banging on about is all my past
i thought going to court is the here and now aspect of it
he has a great routine with me and i do my upmost best for him
just need some advice im really worried basically nearly on the edge of tears in fear im going to loose my son to some bull* report
please any advise on this would be fantastic
just needed to ask someone as dont have many people to talk to
thanks in advance
regards
Hi there
It's such a pity that SS are making you feel this way, they should be supporting you.
Have you thought of going to your GP and getting a liver function test done? This is how they test for alcohol abuse and its just a matter of a blood test. It would at least put all the talk to rest and would show that you are being pro active in trying to resolve any issues the authorities may have.
It would be totally wrong to hold your past against you and if it is mentioned in the report you can argue that it's historic and no longer applies.
I don't see any harm in having a couple of beers when the kids are in bed... It's what most people do!
thank you for the response and well i thought social would be on my side considering my son actually came to live in my care in 2012 through social services but because we are going to court everything seems to be going against me :/
and thats the thing i dont even drink with my son in my care now just at weekends when i go out as most people do etc etc
i havent enquired about a liver test but i believe at the next hearing i may have to do a hair strand test as the woman mentioned this to me
im just so so so worried i love my son to bits always but him first do the very very best for him i can, its plain and simple and everyone can see that he loves me and his mum for that fact and needs us
im just very worried wish i never applied for residency now tbh :/
courts next wednesday so i will keep you updated
thank you for the response
Hair strand tests are unusual for alcohol testing, it's usually used to test for drugs. If you do the liver function test off your own back they may just accept this, a hair strand test costs around Β£300 and the cost would have to be met by you usually.
Unless there are serious safeguarding issues they are unlikely to take him from you, he's been with you since 2012 and to move him after all this time would be detrimental to him. I know it's hard, but believe me we all go through this as court progresses, things can often seem bleak but then it all turns out ok in the end.
As you say, you can prove that you are looking after him and you just have to remind them of all the positives....you are a good dad and I'm sure they will recognise that.
thank you for the kind words i just hope im overthinking and its not as bad as im thinking but at the moment for me there is no light at the end of the tunnel
guess we will find out next week ay
just thought id give you a update,
woohoooo π i got the residency yesterday im so happy, here is to the future with me and my little man
good luck to all dads going thru the same
Thank you all really appreciated π
hope others have some good news aswell
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