Cafcass Guardian

[Whodhavethunkit2]

Not an AIBU but posting here for traffic.

Dd 8 is due to be seen by a Guardian in relation to custody. I am really curious on people’s general opinions of Cafcass and whether the experience was Negative or Positive?

Are they any good at reading between the lines?

I've worked with families who have been assessed by CAFCASS and have always found them to be good at reading situations, doing thorough investigations and making good recommendations. I guess though, like anything, it depends on the worker as to how 'good' they are though.

A friend of a friend has recently had an awful time with CAFCAS. The worker filed a report full of inaccuracies, including spelling mistakes, and constantly asserted her belief that because the abusive ex didn't hit the mother, he wasn't abusive.

Needless to say, there is a complaint going through, and luckily the judge found differently to the CAFCAS worker (as the IDVA and police supported) and directed accordingly.

Never heard anything positive about CAFCASS

We had cafcass involved. After talking to me on telephone interview she was recommending no further contact without further mh assessment.

She did say - when i said there were lies on court papers - no drugs, no violence etc.. she said she realised as contact centre had previously been used ,there were issues.

My ex withdrew before he had his appointment but i dealt in cold hard facts , spoke about what i had documented evidence for.

This helped i think

it’s a mixed bag! I suppose it all boils down to who you get.

@CroydianSlip that sounds terrible

@CroydianSlip

A friend of a friend has recently had an awful time with CAFCAS. The worker filed a report full of inaccuracies, including spelling mistakes, and constantly asserted her belief that because the abusive ex didn't hit the mother, he wasn't abusive.

Needless to say, there is a complaint going through, and luckily the judge found differently to the CAFCAS worker (as the IDVA and police supported) and directed accordingly.

My friend also had a similar awful experience with CAFCAS. They totally f*cked up and didn't correct their false information. They didn't even do the checks needed so custody went to the abusive partner. Shocking, sad and disturbing that this is probabaly happening day in and out. 3 years later and it's all still a mess with little contact with her child. The father has money and ignores cour orders. The mother has not so the father does as he pleases and gets away with it. I'm totally disgusted with the whole system, it is totally flawed.