[Solved] Child Arrangement Order.

Hi Bill,

Thanks for your replay. Yes I have a DRA coming up on 20th of June. I have not had any contact with my little girl. Cafcass took my interview for section 7 but I am still waiting for the report. Cafcass officer was keep on saying about supervised contact that's why I think he will recommend that. What do you think will happen going forward? Would my case close here or the judge will give us more hearing after DRA?

Thanks

If the court orders a contact centre, them go with it Arman... I understand your grievance, but it’s not about you being a bad parent, it’s mainly about the length of time since you last had contact and the age of your child... two years old and you won’t have seen her for over 6 months by the time you get to court.

If the court order supervised contact, they will set another hearing to review your case and hopefully progress contact. It’s a very slow process, which is upsetting and very frustrating.

If they order supported contact, which is contact without a report being written, you could ask for a time limiting the contact centre, say 6 sessions, and then a schedule of increasing contact out in the community, with a further hearing/final hearing to review and ask a final order.

Prepare a schedule of how you would like the contact to progress and take it with you to the next hearing.

All the best

Hi Mojo,

Thanks for your replay. Cafcass officer was mentioning 6 supervised sessions to start with. He said because my ex wife was stating that I can't give my daughter her physical and emotional needs. If my 6 supervised session goes well then am I looking to have unsupervised time with my daughter?

Kind Regards

It might go from supervised to supported - that might simply involve them in the handover and then you go off unsupervised. Will depend on how it goes and on the court on the day, but certainly accept that this is part of the process.

Hi actd

Thanks for your advise. I hoping to get this supervised out of the way and would love to spend quality time with my daughter. Can't wait to play an active role in my daughter's life.

Kind Regards

Arman... hopefully you’ve got it clearer in your mind, but I would just try and put it to one side now, until you get a copy of the section 7 report.

Cafcass make recommendations, usually the court follow them, but that shouldn’t stop you from putting your case across...you can try arguing for contact away from a contact centre, you could propose that a trusted family member supervised contact initially, but my sense is that the length of time since you’ve seen your child will be an important factor in the courts decision.

Have you got some parenting courses arranged? This would help you to show the court that you are doing all you can to allay your ex’s fears about your parenting abilities.

All the best

Hi Mojo,

Thank ypu so much for being here for me this tough time of my life. My concern is that on the 14th of feb at the FHDRA cafcass did not show up and the hearing got adjourned. On the 13 of march again cafcass was not present soe the judge order section 7 without any interim contact. Had cafcass present at that time I should have got interim order. So, yes know time is the big factor here but its all because cafcass.

Plus I would also like to ask you that have you caome across any success stories of dad started from supervised contact 1 hour every other week to the normal unsupervised contact?

Plus can you tell me where to book the parenting course and how to book it please?

Kind Regards

Hi Bill,

Thanks for your replay. Yes I have a DRA coming up on 20th of June. I have not had any contact with my little girl. Cafcass took my interview for section 7 but I am still waiting for the report. Cafcass officer was keep on saying about supervised contact that's why I think he will recommend that. What do you think will happen going forward? Would my case close here or the judge will give us more hearing after DRA?

Thanks

Arman my S7 report was ready in time for my DRA. but since no agreement reached, going for final hearing (thank God!). in your case, there should be a final hearing after your contact sessions are over. this should all be mentioned at the end of your DRA hearing, will most likely be written up in an interim order. hope you will be represented. just ask laywer if your unsure about anything.

- i just read above, that was pretty silly that cafcass officers were not around at your FHDRA. Cafcass was there at my first one. if only court ordered that cafcass be present at my 2nd hearing, then i doubt i would be going for 3rd and final hearing now. at my DRA, court requested cafcass officer to be present at final hearing.

Arman, in the meantime you can still reach out and contact the cafcass officer. you should have his/her email? thats what i did at the time she was preparing my report, and after.

you could ask if they can refer you for an SPIP - separated parenting course. they referred me at my first hearing without me asking. if they refer you then its free.

Hi Bill,

Thanks for your replay. Cafcass officer said that my section 7 will be ready before the next DRA in June. I am just disappointed that they did not even recommend Supervised contact before. Now I have wasted almost 5 months without seeing my child. Cafcass officer did not mention any course, is this a bad thing? Cafcass officer said that there are 2 major issues. 1 my ex wife is saying that I have mental health isaue, which I have shown is my GP letter and the 2nd that I can't lookafter my child. He was saying that's why supervised contact might be a good idea. But before he left he said that he is not sure what he is going to recommend and he needs 2 weeks to finalise the report and make his recommendations.

Plus can I ask you how long it's been for you without seeing your child?

Thanks

Try googling parenting courses in your area... someone on here found free classes in his area, but you may have to pay.

You could contact the CAFCASS Officer and ask if he can recommend any courses for you. Explain that you’ve thought about your meeting with him and what he said about the two major issues, the first has been dealt with by the GPs letter, and the second issue, about the mothers concerns over your parenting might be helped
by your attendance at a Parenting course, which you would be happy to do, it’s worth a try.

All the best

Hi mojo,

Thank you. You think if I don't ask him or do a course would reduce my chances to get a supervised contact with my daughter? Cafcass did not mention any courses.

Thanks