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CAFCASS Section 7 Report

Cantonasboots said:
I'm regards to photos, and home environment do they look at things such as the cot etc , baby gates , child locks .
The reason I ask is there are some photos of me and my daughter and also my mother's other grandkids but none with my ex on (although I could get one if needed )
I don't actually have a baby gate as my daughter wasn't even walking when I last had her a long time ago and my mother's waiting for the a house renovation to be started so there's no carpet on the bedroom floors and stuff stored in storage boxes .
The cot is not even built but it is there in the room , should I build it up even though my child is not even with me .
I'm hoping I move into my new home soon but it's still ongoing at the moment so who knows .
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When my partner had a Cafcass visit they asked to see the living room, kitchen and as far as I can remember the garden too. She then asked to see the children’s bedrooms. The Cafcass officer made some comments to my partner about there being some nice pictures of the children in the living room. He had pictures of his children and pictures of his nieces and nephews, none of the ex. When he got the report Cafcass stated that he had suitable accommodation and that there were no issues with it. She also noted that the children had been provided their own rooms. They were sharing with their siblings at their mother’s house but Cafcass said that whilst they both shared a room with other siblings at their mums, it was still adequate for them space wise.
My partner also had work the children brought home from school displayed on his fridge. Something he had always done, but I think went down well with Cafcass. My partners children were around 9 and 8 so a bit older.
 
KF31 said:
When my partner had a Cafcass visit they asked to see the living room, kitchen and as far as I can remember the garden too. She then asked to see the children’s bedrooms. The Cafcass officer made some comments to my partner about there being some nice pictures of the children in the living room. He had pictures of his children and pictures of his nieces and nephews, none of the ex. When he got the report Cafcass stated that he had suitable accommodation and that there were no issues with it. She also noted that the children had been provided their own rooms. They were sharing with their siblings at their mother’s house but Cafcass said that whilst they both shared a room with other siblings at their mums, it was still adequate for them space wise.
My partner also had work the children brought home from school displayed on his fridge. Something he had always done, but I think went down well with Cafcass. My partners children were around 9 and 8 so a bit older.
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Did 1 or 2 of them visit? And do they check for gates and plug covers, safety measures etc?

Do they specifically need to have their own bedroom or just a space to share with their siblings etc?
 
With me, it was social services who came. Checked the whole house and even looked in the fridge and food cupboards (because my ex complained I wasn't feeding son!). They also saw photos of him on the walls and in frames - I saw her looking at them and that helped. I had them from over the years as he grew up. He did have his own room with his own things in as well. Child's duvet cover, toys, things on the wall etc.

No it's not essential they have their own room if they are under 10 but it helps if it's personal to them - like their own child friendly duvet cover or some toys or pictures of theirs - or a toy box somewhere. Not just a "visitor" who sleeps in someone else's room on a campbed - if that makes sense.
 
DadLad said:
Did 1 or 2 of them visit? And do they check for gates and plug covers, safety measures etc?

Do they specifically need to have their own bedroom or just a space to share with their siblings etc?
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It was just the one cafcass officer. I don’t think they checked for plug covers and safety gates but like I say my partners children were around 9 and 8 at the time so they were a bit older, with a younger child they might well check for something like that. I’d say it’s better to be prepared and just have it in place just in case.
Cafcass wasn’t bothered that the children shared rooms at their mums, they noted that there was enough space so I think the size of the room for the amount of children was taken into account and they probably checked that parts of the room were made personal to each child by having their own belongings/toys etc in there.
 
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I think what they're looking at is to see if the child has a full life with you when there. In my case, had some of his own clothes and he had toys and a full life here.
 
I'm just trying to think of the right approach with this. The youngest has never stayed and doesn't have own room. Do I set up something in my room or the older siblings bedroom?
 
If the youngest has never stayed then they wouldn't have their own room! But what you could do is show where the youngest would have a bed. Does the older sibling have their own room and how old is the older one? And is the room big enough for two kids and two beds?
 
Ash said:
If the youngest has never stayed then they wouldn't have their own room! But what you could do is show where the youngest would have a bed. Does the older sibling have their own room and how old is the older one? And is the room big enough for two kids and two beds?
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Eldest is 17 and yeah there's plenty room but I don't know if it's appropriate with the ages?
 
DadLad said:
Almost 4
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Another question! are they both the same sex? If different sex it needs to be separate bedrooms after age 10. But from the sound of it, a 4 year old in with a 17 year old isn't really idea anyway. So a bed in your room would be fine if it's for a four year old - a kids sized bed (they're slightly smaller than a full single bed). But you might need to explain how things will progress as child gets older. Eg will child have their own room when other child turns 18 and goes to University?
 
hazemaze said:
Aren't you lucky if you get a home visit?
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I pushed for it. They initially tried to fob me off with another phone call but I declined as part of forming the S7 states seeing both parents living conditions.

it wouldn't surprise me if on the day they cancel and try to make it a phone call.
 
I'm going to bullet point some things that I would like to discuss, and also some pointers so I feel like I have spoken about everything.

I am hoping I don't get emotionally fused during the interview because it's been almost 3 years of being silenced.

in terms of evidence, I have a lot but I don't know what to expect, so I don't know what to have with me.

I was under the assumption that a S7 interview is to discuss contact? And sadly from many people on here who have had a S7 interview has also come with further allegations from the ex?
 
That's a good idea - I did the same and had something to refer to. The section 7 interview is to suss you out basically. It's like the phone call but more in depth. So it's also an opportunity to sell yourself kind of and win Cafcass over to show you're a great Dad. As with all these things, focus more on that and child focused things, than the ex and allegations.
 
Ash said:
That's a good idea - I did the same and had something to refer to. The section 7 interview is to suss you out basically. It's like the phone call but more in depth. So it's also an opportunity to sell yourself kind of and win Cafcass over to show you're a great Dad. As with all these things, focus more on that and child focused things, than the ex and allegations.
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I still find it shocking that we have to "perform" in front of these people who are extremely judgmental and don't actually have a clue.

We shouldn't have to 'prove' to compete strangers that we are good Fathers. But I suppose it's just playing the system to get the right results. The end game is the focus isn't it.
 
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I am expecting more petty and bizarre allegations from the ex, I'm just trying to cover all areas so that Im well prepared.

How do you handle this if they ask?
 
DadLad said:
I'm going to bullet point some things that I would like to discuss, and also some pointers so I feel like I have spoken about everything.

I am hoping I don't get emotionally fused during the interview because it's been almost 3 years of being silenced.

in terms of evidence, I have a lot but I don't know what to expect, so I don't know what to have with me.

I was under the assumption that a S7 interview is to discuss contact? And sadly from many people on here who have had a S7 interview has also come with further allegations from the ex?
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Emotions are completely natural and I believe in such emotions being positive over negative. Particularly in this day where men are encouraged to show their emotions.

Saying that I got literally tortured for showing my emotions in Court with the Cafcass officer in attendance. It essentially ended with me being emotionally unstable and needing therapy to dissolve this… it was obscene.

Keep strong. Try and hold it down and let it all go after Cafcass leave. Then you can roar.

My S7 was based on allegations. Not my parenting and nothing about the child. Have everything in a folder ready to dismiss allegations if the officer goes down that route. I would highly suggest keeping defending allegations for a judge - which is the point of a fact finding. Cafcass go down the conflict between parents you will have a tougher time.
 
jafranks said:
Emotions are completely natural and I believe in such emotions being positive over negative. Particularly in this day where men are encouraged to show their emotions.

Saying that I got literally tortured for showing my emotions in Court with the Cafcass officer in attendance. It essentially ended with me being emotionally unstable and needing therapy to dissolve this… it was obscene.

Keep strong. Try and hold it down and let it all go after Cafcass leave. Then you can roar.

My S7 was based on allegations. Not my parenting and nothing about the child. Have everything in a folder ready to dismiss allegations if the officer goes down that route. I would highly suggest keeping defending allegations for a judge - which is the point of a fact finding. Cafcass go down the conflict between parents you will have a tougher time.
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Did they visit you at your home?

I'm thinking about recording the visit because previously they lied about what was discussed during the phone interview and they also completely missed out important information.
 
I unfortunately did not get a home visit. Mine was a pathetic telephone conversation. I was in a contact centre during this period and they wouldn’t come there either.

If you wish to record it that’s your thing. I know I wasn’t permitted to record the telephone call. Although I did try simply because I wanted to remember every single thing that was said instead of it being a ‘well I have evidence that the officer said this and that’

If you have a camera in your home recording. You have a camera in your home…..
 
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