ICFA - Court Appointed

[DadLad]

Cafcass instruct the ICFA to be completed. It's carried out by what's still widely known as a contact centre. Cafcass set the parameters - duration and involvement levels of the contact centre.

It's unlikely that Cafcass have requested the mother's directions.

This is why I suggested that you contact the Cafcass representative because they are running the show and they are being told how the process is unfolding.

The point of the ICFA is to build/rebuild your relationship so cutting it short is pointless. At the end of the process Cafcass will submit an addendum to the S7.

For mine, thankfully I won't be in a contact centre, it will be in the community with said ICFA facilitator observing.

But this has all been incredibly rushed, they will spend 1hr with our child then immediately after that there are 2 sessions.

There has been no reintroduction or preparation work at all.

The mother will then pull the plug again then this ICFA has been a complete waste of time.

 

[Ash]

Yes sounds like you need to contact Cafcass and ask them to ensure reintroduction continues.

 

[Ash]

The order does leave it a bit vague then if it just says ICFA then they report back - do you have another hearing coming up? To me that should mean the ICFA do a kind of report like Cafcass with recommendations to the court as to moving to regular unsupervised time etc. If the ICFA is just saying "it's up to the Mother" without even having the two sessions then they are biased and sounds like that's what their recommendation will be!

 

[DadLad]

Yes sounds like you need to contact Cafcass and ask them to ensure reintroduction continues.

Again, another service not doing its job.

 

[DadLad]

The order does leave it a bit vague then if it just says ICFA then they report back - do you have another hearing coming up?

Yeah final hearing is in a few months. There will be the ICFA report as part of the Cafcass addendum report.

 

[mikeayo1891]

Yeah final hearing is in a few months. There will be the ICFA report as part of the Cafcass addendum report.

Have you already had CAFCASS do a section 7?

 

[DadLad]

Have you already had CAFCASS do a section 7?

Had a S7 report but that report is irrelevant now.

After ICFA there will be an addendum report by a completely different FCA.

 

[DadLad]

I have just been informed that my ex is left responsible to create a story board with pictures of me etc

This is if she has actually done it, I am worried that the first visit will be traumatic for our child because my ex has not done her part with building some visual familiarity.

She will try everything to make the ICFA fail. Absolutely everything.

 

[Peanut 21]

That's ridiculous. Wouldn't it be better for you to do the board so you can put up pictures of yourself and maybe extended family?
Ffs, the courts etc really don't get it.

 

[DadLad]

That's ridiculous. Wouldn't it be better for you to do the board so you can put up pictures of yourself and maybe extended family?
Ffs, the courts etc really don't get it.

I've got this concern in writing to ICFA. So if the first visit is traumatic and my child clearly has no familiarity of me. I can argue that the mother purposefully did not comply with her part in an attempt to make ICFA fail.

 

[DadLad]

Update*

The ICFA practitioner has visited our child only the once for 45 minutes before the first contact session.

I've had two 1hr sessions in the community with the practitioner observing and making notes.

1 hour just isn't enough time but it is better than nothing.

The facilitator has said that the sessions have gone extremely well and our child has warmed to me straight away.

There is just 1 session left then the reigns are handed over to the mother to continue contact (if she agrees)

Otherwise it is another few painful months wait until the final hearing next year.

There will be 1 video call after the sessions have finished to complete a parenting plan.

The practitioner agrees that after these ICFA sessions have finished, contact needs to be frequent and consistent for the wellbeing of our child.

 

[coggers1980]

Hey, found out this week that I've been accepted on to this programme.
Any advice or literature to read?
Can't say I'm looking forward to it!

 

[DadLad]

Hey, found out this week that I've been accepted on to this programme.
Any advice or literature to read?
Can't say I'm looking forward to it!

They will give you a course to do yourself then a group course via Zoom.

Tbh, I think it is a pointless service. But just cooperate and bite the bullet.

Keep a timeline of events, ie; email from ICFA regarding a schedule etc.

 

[coggers1980]

Yeah no doubt.
Cheers.

 

[bujanin]

Update*

The ICFA practitioner has visited our child only the once for 45 minutes before the first contact session.

I've had two 1hr sessions in the community with the practitioner observing and making notes.

1 hour just isn't enough time but it is better than nothing.

The facilitator has said that the sessions have gone extremely well and our child has warmed to me straight away.

There is just 1 session left then the reigns are handed over to the mother to continue contact (if she agrees)

Otherwise it is another few painful months wait until the final hearing next year.

There will be 1 video call after the sessions have finished to complete a parenting plan.

The practitioner agrees that after these ICFA sessions have finished, contact needs to be frequent and consistent for the wellbeing of our child.

That's terrific DadLad you hadn't seen your child for a long time. How's it been going, you must've been feeling emotional/happy/overwhelmed.

 

[DadLad]

That's terrific DadLad you hadn't seen your child for a long time. How's it been going, you must've been feeling emotional/happy/overwhelmed.

I can't explain the feeling, I've felt numb, excited but also quite anxious given the circumstances.

1hr has been quite difficult with trying to get to know my child and having someone follow me around with a notepad.

But I have made that 1hr fun and exciting for our child and blocked everything else out, and I look forward to the next visit.

I've also had at the back of my mind that the mother will say that our child has been affected by the visits. She has already made comments to the facilitator even though the facilitator has said the visits went extremely well.

 

[bujanin]

even though the facilitator has said the visits went extremely well.

This is the voice that will be listened to. You're powering forward now.

 

[mikeayo1891]

Hey, found out this week that I've been accepted on to this programme.
Any advice or literature to read?
Can't say I'm looking forward to it!

@coggers1980 Please can I ask if your ICFA ordered in addition to a Section 7 or was done without a Section 7?

I'm wondering if I can ask my judge to put my child on this programme without ordering CAFCASS to do a Section 7 as section 7s take such a long time.

 

[coggers1980]

@coggers1980 Please can I ask if your ICFA ordered in addition to a Section 7 or was done without a Section 7?

I'm wondering if I can ask my judge to put my child on this programme without ordering CAFCASS to do a Section 7 as section 7s take such a long time.

Evening.
Had a S7 and all that faff. They recommend a fact finding, which both ex and I didn't want, so Judge ruled no safeguarding issues or PA against her.
So next step is this ICFA. Ex refused to agree to it at court, until Judge layed into her and she changed her mind.
Don't hold much hope for it, but needs must.

 

[bujanin]

@coggers1980 Please can I ask if your ICFA ordered in addition to a Section 7 or was done without a Section 7?

I'm wondering if I can ask my judge to put my child on this programme without ordering CAFCASS to do a Section 7 as section 7s take such a long time.

It's CC who make the recommendation for the ICFA as part of the S7 recommendation and it'd be for you and your child. I'm not sure it's a direct court issue.