Advice Needed: CAFCASS & Child Services Contact Regarding Complaints from My Ex

[Irfan101]

Hi everyone,

I’m really hoping to get some advice regarding a situation I’m dealing with involving CAFCASS and child services, following complaints made by my ex-partner. Here’s a brief summary:

1. Final Hearing in February 2024: I have a final hearing scheduled for February, related to ongoing court proceedings with my ex.
2. Child Services: Child services recently contacted me and visited my children without informing me beforehand. They’ve expressed that they would like me to be part of their assessment and have requested to visit me. as they are directed from CAFCASS. I have told them i would like to cooperate if there are any court orders in place for such assessment.
3. CAFCASS: A CAFCASS officer also called me, and the conversation felt very subtle and like they were trying to be cautious about the whole situation.
4. The Complaint: My ex raised a complaint with CAFCASS after my children didn’t attend their karate grading on Sunday. The children were tired and overwhelmed because my ex kept them awake late the night before and scheduled a playdate right before the grading. Instead of acknowledging this, she has made claims to CAFCASS that aren’t true, including accusing me of "bad-mouthing" her to the children.
5. Previous Contact with Child Services: I had contacted child services earlier myself, expressing concerns, but they told me it was a civil case and that they weren’t going to get involved.

I’m feeling overwhelmed and unsure of how to approach this situation. Could anyone offer advice on:

• Should I be involved with this assessment?
• How to address the false allegations and avoid making things worse?
• How to protect my rights and my children’s well-being, especially with the upcoming final hearing?

Any advice or insights from people who’ve dealt with similar experiences would be much appreciated!