[Solved] Child Arrangement Order.

Hi bill 337,

Original date of my Section 7 was the 4th of June. Then, Cafcass office called me and said that he is going to submit the report to the court on the 7th of June. I have checked my emails and there is nothing. I honestly have no idea why Cafcass in my case delay everything. Even when he came to see me he was 3 houra late. Should I contact him or leave it?

Thanks

hi, definitely contact him and chase this up. he has to send the report directly to you, by the deadline. the report is very important for your case and your future child contact, as court will expect you to write a response to it. so you need lot of time to prepare responses.

9/10 the courts usually go with whatever cafcass recommend in that report.

if you still hear nothing, then you should register a complaint with cafcass.

Hi bill 337,

I have contacted him today and he said to me that the report will be with you in next couple of days. The deadline was on the 4th of June. Honestly speaking Cafcass in my case has been really unprofessional. Wasted almost 3 month athe start of my case by not turning up in the court. I hope he recommend some sort of a contact with my daughter.

Have you every come across a case where Cafcass recommend Fact finding after section 7 report and after 6 months??

Kind Regards

Hi Arman,

No I never heard of cafcass asking for fact finding after S7 report. I had a decent cafcass officer. I even emailed her days after my final hearing and cafcass case closed, and she was still nice enough to give good advice. Seems like your ones drunk or something.

Then again you probably don’t know what your ex said to cafcass. Could have been a drama queen, and told lots of exaggerated stuff to make things difficult for you.

Hi Bill 337,

This is my issue bill. Cafcass officers have wasted almost 6 months in my case now they have decided that Fact finding hearing in my case after section 7 report. My solicitor said that he disagree with it and going to make this point in the court that if Fact Finding was necessary then it should have been done months ago. My only issue is if Judge order the Finding of Fact hearing then they will not start my contact with my daughter before that. This is absolutely rubbish and my solicitor said that he is going to have some strong words in the court. All I want my contact to start with my daughter and I am not scared of Fact finding hearing as I have not done what she ia alleging.

Can a Judge make an interim order before Fact finding hearing?

Kind Regards

http://www.judiciary.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Child-Arrangements-Programme-Flowchart.pdf

Hi Arman,

its good that your solicitor will strongly argue against fact finding. hopefully the judge will see sense and not order it, as this will also have bad effect on your relationship with your child, not having contact for such a long time etc. at my first hearing, fact finding was skipped, they gave me interim order before section 7 report was due to begin. i got another interim order at the 2nd hearing too, as no agreement reached, and went to final hearing.

if you have not had any child contact for a long time, and before your hearing, then it is possible the judge may say no contact/no interim order until fact find or s7 report. they might recommend you see your child at a contact centre in the interim. but don't lose hope. bring up all of your concerns with your solicitor and he/she will make a strong case for you on the day. I wish you all the best.

Hi bill337,

I have received my section 7 reopet. Cafcass recommendations are as follows;

He recommended finding of fact hearing as he can't tell who is saying the truth.

He recommended 6 sesaions of supervised contact as it is in rhe best interest of my daughter

He also recommended parenting course as the mother is saying that I can't look after my daughter.

What is your take on it please?

Kind Regards

hi Arman,

i guess the positives from this report is that it recommends contact sessions with your daughter. since you have not seen your child for months, we kind of expected this outcome. 6 sessions sounds reasonable. some dads are stuck in contact centre for months on end. After the 6 sessions, hopefully you can see your child at home for the day, and then progress into overnight stays.

in your interview, did you answer to allegations, did you admit to anything? check your court order papers. it should ask you to prepare responses to this S7 report?

the part about parenting course sounds too one-sided. in my case the ex tried to make me look like an incapable dad. but cafcass recommended both parents to take the SPIP separated parents course (ordered at first hearing) and we just did it, since it was free.

all you can do now is send this report to your solicitor/barrister. discuss, and just maybe it can be argued to avoid the fact finding hearing.

Hi bill337,

I was totally child focused. I did not do anything and I did not admit to anything. My ex said that I slap my daughter which is totally rubbish. She said that when my daughter cries I get very agitated and can't control her. She said I was doing 2 jobs and did not spend enough time at home. Cafcass recommend parenting course because of her allegations. Plus plus they said that by doing this course it will put her mind to ease. Cafcass also said that after 6 sessions if more sessions needed then I have to pay for them. My solicitor said that he don't think Judge will go with fact finding hearing as there is not enough in this case. My only worry is what if Judge will order fact finding hearing and don't give me any contact with my child? My understanding is they dont give any interim order before fact finding. In my case they did not order 1 and went straight to Section 7. Now cafcass recommend fact finding as well as supervised contact?

What is your take on it?

Kind Regards

Hi Arman,

we can not control ex when she makes spasticated allegations. i got the same nonsense and lies. like i ran away from the house when child threw a tantrum lol. we can't control what the judge will decide, so try to turn your attention away from the stuff we can't control.

now just speak to your solicitor. you need to put all your energy into preparing your response to the S7 report. your solicitor should make a strong case for you, about avoiding fact finding, as well as try avoid paying for further contact sessions. i heard someone say that apparently there are some contact centres out there that are free. one angle you can take is, after 6 contact sessions, if its possible that a family member can supervise while you have your child at your home. ask for solicitor to make a case for something like this. as for the parenting course, can you ask cafcass if its free? if its free, ask them to refer you, and just take the course to shut them up.

Hi Guys,

I had my court hear (DRA) yesterday. Cafcass recommended supervised contact and fact finding hearing. Judge said that supervised contact should start and set the date for fact finding hearing in September. Now the shock came. Cafcass called supervised centre and they refused to take me on. They said that before the Fact finding hearing they are not willing to supervise the contact. By the time Fact finding take place it will be 8 months for me without seeing my daughter.

Can I please ask if finding are made against me, and if I accept the findings would I get any supervised contact with my daughter while I am doing the course?

Kind Regards