So a bit of a long story, currently seeking a cao for my 18month old dd.. father has a history of domestic abuse against myself and our dd. This abuse I have evidence of and last time we were in court exp said the incidents I had listed did happened but that I had dramatised it all. Because no safeguarding checks had been completed no order could be made however I did agree to supervised contact At a contact centre, exp dragged his feet and before we even got to a contact centre the covid lockdown happened. Cafcass submitted a report without talking to ex or myself and said an s7 report should be completed and also suggested a fact finding hearing.
Last week I receive a letter from the courts saying there would be a hearing on the papers today, basically no one could be present he was just reviewing the case.. fine. Today I had someone from Cafcass call to say the judge had asked her to call, again no problem, spoke about our history, mentioned him attempting the allegations and my wish for contact to be supervised until exp went on an anger management course and also until dd was slightly older. Then I received an email from the Cafcass officer to myself and exp saying that she had advised the judge that contact should take place with an independent social worker present as she feels some supervised contact is need to confirm whether there is any substance to my allegations and she feels that a report from an isw would be enough evidence for the case the progress safely forwards.
I have no problem with a isw observing contact and reporting, in fact I encourage it, but I don’t understand how a report from an individual proves or disproves my allegations especially when no one has looked over my evidence and exp has confirmed the incidents have happened. I’m now worried they’re trying to push for unsupervised contact without looking properly at the evidence I have, not even a section 7 report as they have said they can’t complete one at the moment. Will I have the opportunity to voice my concerns before unsupervised contact is order? As I’m concerned all of this is being discussed and I have yet to be able to speak with a judge.