Cafcas

[Fullofthought]

I've cafcas coming out next friday. What should I expect as she's said she needs to have a look around my home, does she look in my cupbords, my bedroom, the kitchen cupboards, fridge freezer ect. What sort of things will she be looking for/at. What sort of things do they ask when it's a section 7 child arrangements court case. She lives with my permanently but dad wants full custody of her. Any advice/ tips on cafcas would be great.

The court order from the first hearing will set out what the Section 7 report is to cover. Each case differs. Unless the court has directed a home conditions check, I’d not expect her to go through your home with a fine tooth comb, or to look in cupboards etc. If she says she needs to look, it’ll likely be living space, kitchen, bathroom, child’s bedroom.

Is it ok to leave the toys my little one plays with out or should everything thing be put away ( they aren't all over the floor she has her lol dolls box out and her my little pony s set out on the coffee table and her desk is full of colours/ paper/ colouring books ect.

When they came to my house the lady said how lovely it was to see a few toys out in the lounge for the DC's to play with. She said that many people go over the top so the house is unnaturally immaculate and doesn't look lived in.

She looked at DC's bedroom and then sat in the lounge for a coffee and a chat.

Toys are not mess, even if a bit untidy. children play, it’s normal and expected. I wouldn’t worry about that.

Unless there's suggestion of neglect (which you'd know about) its usually just to see if the child has a child friendly space - by that I mean, enough space for the child and whoever else lives in the house (including either their own bedroom or an appropriate sharing arrangement eg if they have siblings), that they have space to safely play and move around in, that they have toys, that they have space to store their belongings etc.
Please don't panic about this. They're not expecting extreme hygiene standards or an Instagrammable home. Just a safe family home.

Sometimes it's hard to comprehend what they're looking for if you havent come across the alternatives (ie where children are not wanted and not prioritised, where there's random adults using it as a crash pad etc)

The fact that you're even thinking about what they might want to check tells me you'll be fine.

They are fine just checking child's surroundings. Own bed, obvious signs child is cared for well like their own toys, appropriate clothing. They come to your home to chat to the child in familiar surroundings to help them feel more comfortable. I know when they came to me talked to kids in their rooms (old enough to do that) I tried to relax and leave them too it. Had dinner in slow cooker commented on nice smell youngest invited her to stay lol. Did annoy me that they didn't do the same to dad though felt like I was under the microscope.

Do they do the same cost to the father? The court case is him wanting her to live with him. She doesn't see him at the moment or have any contact with him, in court I offered indirect and that was on the 1/11/18 we are still awaiting him to write to her. Back in court end of Jan so it's not going to look good on him he has waisted a full month by not writing to her.

In my case they didn't kids with me he had regular weekly stay over contact but wanted 50/50 I can only presume to reduce maintenance to zero painted himself as a bloody saint and used dirty tricks but kids seem to like him so I never refused contact . Unless there is a safety concern the court will be Keen to give Dad contact you have to prepare yourself for that.

He will be offered contact once he has completed the support program for domestic abuse that he made me and little one suffer. He has battery on his criminal record.

I'm so sorry you both had to go through that, try not to stress too much hopefully the courts protect you and your little one x