[Solved] S7 Cafcass

I would consider a letter/email to the court to complain about the way CAFCASS havent been kept informed about the delays and your concerns that the report is being badly rushed, without due care and diligence.

Do you think thats best to do now? Even though they are arranging an appointment. Just dont want to annoy the case worker before they have a meeting/visit the home because i feel it might contribute to the case worker to have a bad opinion?

I think my partner is definitely going to raise the concern if it comes back negative but shouldnt he be able to raise the concern without 'treading on eggshells'?

The truth is it has been awful service, communication and it makes me wonder what would have happened if my partner didnt continue contacting them?!

On the other hand if it does come back all fine - who cares? as long as they can continue proceedings im sure my partner will be happy....

Thanks for all support etc

Update:

The CAFCASS officer came to our house yesterday, and all seemed quite positive to be honest.
Asked why my partner would think mum would fustrate the order and refuse contact - Also asked me.

Got the background of what had happened but said there were no safeguarding issues so there is no reason all school holidays shouldnt be shared equally. They did say to remember that they make recommendations and the judge make the final decision but was very helpful.

They couldnt believe the little contact (my partner) has with his daughter, or how his daughter wasnt allowed to spend time with his family on her own etc. They suggested quite a few things we would be happy to have in place.

He did say that he was concerned about the allegations but the CAFCASS officer said not to worry too much because if she has never raised it before the hearing and allows her daughter to go to our home every other weekend (where there is apparently abuse happening) then the judge wont take it too serious as their logic is no mother would actually allow their child to spend time with someone they think is abusive!

Having said all the above, the officer still needs to go to his ex's home and talk to her but so far i think its all quite positive. I don't think my partner is asking for much so fingers crossed!

A good cafcass officer will see through the lies, or at the very least, be on their guard for them, so hopefully if your partner's ex raises the safeguarding issue, the cafcass officer will question why his daughter is allowed to go to his house, which will rather put her on the spot. A court would have to think there is a good reason to ignore cafcass - after all, that's the whole point of cafcass is to extend the questioning of the court to outside the courtroom.

You sound like you've got a good CAFCASS officer that will be thorough and fair in his analysis. It certainly sounds like he has a handle on the current situation, as long as that's reflected in his report all should be well. Any idea when you will be receiving the report? It's a nervous wait!

Thanks both.

A nervous wait for sure as you don't know what was said on the other side and what will be put into the report!

We should receive the report on Monday 16th and the hearing is Tuesday 17th. Fingers crossed for a good outcome on both report and hearing.

I do think it will go to a final hearing though but as said before if we can sort this summer for now we will be happy.

I will update

Hi all,

An update:
Haven't heard from CAFCASS for the S7 report as of yet.

I personally dont think that they read the statements of concerns (for a few reasons) for example, my partner was questioned after they had spoken to his ex.. and everything they questioned was already answered in his statements i.e how long his ex stopped contact for and what she alleged etc

Court tomorrow... Hopefully we will get to see the S7 before the hearing! Feeling really nervous now!

How did court go?

Ergh!

Short version:
So long story short the S7 had not been submitted and case adjourned until September. Case worker said they submitted it and has evidence of courts accepting it but somewhere along the line something went wrong and no one could find it!

Long version:
Whilst waiting for our hearing I said to my partner there is no harm in contacting the case worker to find out as we do not want the hearing to be adourned. We contacted the case worker a couple of times, left a voicemail and sent an email but had no response.

After 4 hour wait he finally got called into the court room. Said what he wanted, mum disagreed and the judge said as they do not have the S7 report they cannot find a middle ground and expected my partner to give a little but he did not want to budge until reading the S7. Mum refused to drive as she said if dad wants contact dad can make the effort...even though thats not the childs interest due to timings on Friday evening.

My partner mentioned contact for this summer as it states in the current order for 'the child is to spend up to 5 consecutive nights by the time child is 4 years old and up to 7 consecutive nights by the time child is 5 years old and 7 nights from child fifth birthday' .
(Child is currently 4) Mum has always said he should only get 5 nights this summer. They've now agreed in court for 5 nights 5 nights and 6 nights for the 3 weeks he gets over summer (an extra day on the last week of contact but better than nothing!)

S7 report came in 10 minutes after they left the hearing (which is annoying because it is so positive!) Talks about mums allegations and having no police reports/social services etc, so they wrote in the report that there is no evidence that these incidents ever took place and deemed no merit for my partner to go on domestic abuse programme as he showed no controlling or coercive behaviour whatsoever.
Said that child seems like she has a close bond with mum and dad and when they spoke about dad child was extremely positive and showed no signs of being scared or at risk of danger so definitely did not believe that my partner smacked his child as mum alleged. They also contacted the nursery regarding this allegation and nursery also said child speaks positively about dad and had no concerns.

S7 report recommendations to the judge:
Friday to Sunday night contact
Mum to drop child to us on Friday straight after school
All school holidays to be equally shared (Summer to have 1 week with dad 1 week with mum 2 weeks with dad and 2 weeks with mum)
Both parents should be able to take child abroad but provide the other parent itinery documents
Child should have video call with dad once a week
Child to spend fathers day with dad

So pretty much everything we asked for! Although it is just a recommendation and the judge does not have to follow .. its a shame the report came in 10 minutes too late but case adjourned until september where the s7 will be available. The summer will fly by before they need to be in court and hes got the additional time this summer more than what hes ever got.

He can ask for the case worker from CAFCASS to attend the meeting so i think that would be a good idea to refocus on whats best for the child as opposed to what mum wants (i.e Friday evening / Travel / holidays abroad)

So roll on september to have the hearing we should have had yesterday!

That’s really good news Ldad... as you say it’s such a shame it wasn’t available, but the time will fly by and I see no reason why the judge won’t take the reports recommendations on board, particularly as the case was adjourned for the very reason of not having it.

All the best