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CAFCASS Section 7 Report
- Thread starter DadLad
- Start date
Isn’t the wait for most section 7’s to be completed, a few months? It took 11 weeks for mine and that was over a year ago. I think 8 weeks is pretty quick in the grand scheme of how overloaded family court is right now. It will be biased (probably) but isn’t the 2-3k worth putting towards a barrister to undermine the flawed biased report? Who knows maybe the time it takes to get an ISW approved or considered following their involvement could take even longer and prolong things even more. I don’t like Cafcass, but the majority of judges do, because they are their ‘advisors’ and part of the system.
What actually happens during the section 7 report?
Do they visit me at my property or is it another flimsy phone call? How many visits/ calls are they?
Do I prepare evidence to shut down any more allegations?
Do I present evidence which shows that I have relentlessly been trying to be involved in my child’s life through various different ways but the mother does not promote, encourage or support any relationship with me and our child.
Do I present evidence which shows a pattern of alienating behaviours?
I feel that so far Cafcass are heavily biased towards the mother and I haven’t had a voice.
We have to prepare a position statement for the section 7 report. And the author of the report has to attend the DRA so that their report can flawed.
I can’t afford a barrister for the DRA and a final hearing. Which would be more important?
Do they visit me at my property or is it another flimsy phone call? How many visits/ calls are they?
Do I prepare evidence to shut down any more allegations?
Do I present evidence which shows that I have relentlessly been trying to be involved in my child’s life through various different ways but the mother does not promote, encourage or support any relationship with me and our child.
Do I present evidence which shows a pattern of alienating behaviours?
I feel that so far Cafcass are heavily biased towards the mother and I haven’t had a voice.
We have to prepare a position statement for the section 7 report. And the author of the report has to attend the DRA so that their report can flawed.
I can’t afford a barrister for the DRA and a final hearing. Which would be more important?
Sorry this got missed. I think the answer is - it depends. Traditionally they would come to your house - these days it could be by phone or video link or they might ask you to go into the office. There are things you can talk about and show them - but sometimes they don't want you to show them any paperwork or evidence. Main thing is to not say anything negative about the ex and keep it child focused.
I'm sure others will have experiences to share.
I'm sure others will have experiences to share.
They visited my ex with the kids but only spoke to me on the phone for about 30 minutes. I asked them to visit me but they said they had no concerns with my care of the children so didn't need to. It depends on the allegations I think. in my case it was cannabis use which was cleared up with a negative hair strand test ordered at the FHDRA and the S7 report was ordered specifically to deal with that issue. When the test came back negative the ex started with abuse allegations but she hadn't mentioned this at Court so I don't think Cafcass took them seriously 
. They didn't speak to nursery or anyone else in a professional capacity but they did speak to my mum who had been supervising my interim time with the kids.
It really depends on what is being alleged if they visit you or not and if they speak to any professionals.
. They didn't speak to nursery or anyone else in a professional capacity but they did speak to my mum who had been supervising my interim time with the kids.It really depends on what is being alleged if they visit you or not and if they speak to any professionals.
I had a phone call. Might of been due to my child was 1 1/2 years old. I invited the Cafcass officer to attend a Contact Centre to view our interactions, they declined.
I didn’t say anything about ex in terms of allegations, or being negative. But clearly that wasn’t reciprocated. I was CC’d into evidence of conflict and allegations from the ex to the Cafcass officer during their time of submitting the report. Also ex had child whilst on their call and just happened that the child needed changing and feeding etc etc in the background. The officer spent time in the S7 to make numerous comments of her good parenting whilst on the call. Very unfair.
The result of the S7 was pretty shocking… it was a full 18 pages of everything but talking about me and or the child’s best interests with me.
For me Cafcass was the main reason for such a terrible period of the full court process. Their involvement did nothing but make everything far far worse.
I reacted to Cafcass following this S7, because I was upset and felt completely ignored and my parenting and love for the child, all got taken from me. My reaction although I felt was humanly right and I felt my own sense of integrity and fight to be with my child. It only made things worse. I paid the price for this and it took a long time to get it resolved.
In hindsight I wish I didn’t give them the time of day. I’ve learnt to be better than Cafcass now.
I didn’t say anything about ex in terms of allegations, or being negative. But clearly that wasn’t reciprocated. I was CC’d into evidence of conflict and allegations from the ex to the Cafcass officer during their time of submitting the report. Also ex had child whilst on their call and just happened that the child needed changing and feeding etc etc in the background. The officer spent time in the S7 to make numerous comments of her good parenting whilst on the call. Very unfair.
The result of the S7 was pretty shocking… it was a full 18 pages of everything but talking about me and or the child’s best interests with me.
For me Cafcass was the main reason for such a terrible period of the full court process. Their involvement did nothing but make everything far far worse.
I reacted to Cafcass following this S7, because I was upset and felt completely ignored and my parenting and love for the child, all got taken from me. My reaction although I felt was humanly right and I felt my own sense of integrity and fight to be with my child. It only made things worse. I paid the price for this and it took a long time to get it resolved.
In hindsight I wish I didn’t give them the time of day. I’ve learnt to be better than Cafcass now.
How did you set about addressing the flawed S7?
We have to prepare a position statement for the S7 report before the DRA. And then the author of the report can also get cross-examined at the DRA.
First thing is painfully waiting for a Cafcass officer to actually get assigned to my case. Then the interviews etc.
The waiting adds to the pain. 2.5 years and counting
It was more than… if you remember my final order was for continuation of contact centre only time for approximately another year. This was Cafcass’ influence to a Justices of Peace ‘judge’.That's great newsSo the appeal was successful then?
Overturned by a high court KC judge to permit unsupervised time, handovers to be made by parents, dismissed the non-molestation order immediately.
So it was a pretty damn good appeal document we put together. Thanks again