section 7 welfare report and 1st cafcass meeting

[lucyloo78]

my ex has applied for shared residency. had 1st hearing, now getting cafcass report.

Got 1st cafcass meeting. they have to do section 7 welfare assessment as my ex has told vicious lies. he has mental health disorder and is extremely volatile. his lies are outrageous slanderous retaliation but he is extremely manipulative and conniving.

Any exp and advice pls?

I think that the S7 will be a good thing for you if the situation is as you describe. Cafcass are very experienced and have seen it all before. My advice would be makes notes of your main points you wish them to know, keep them child focussed rather than insults against your ex. Let him do that against you and it will not go down well. Concentrate on what you think is in the best interests of your DC not you and why.
It is difficult to say more without knowing what he is making allegations about but if he had real concerns surely he would be asking for sole residency and they will probably think the same.

A section 7 report is the `standard' report ordered by the courts when there are welfare concerns (and often when there are not). They are usually conducted by CAFCASS (or CAFCASS Cymru if you are in Wales) although if the children are known to Social Services they will do it instead.

Normally a CAFCASS officer will interview both parents and want to see the children with both of them (often at home to see them in a `natural' environment).

Advice?

Be entirely child-focused. Don't talk about what your ex has done to you - talk about everything from your child's point of view. That's about it. Stay calm, relax and be normal.

As for your ex having shared residency - he will have to prove to the court that making this as an order is in the child's best interests as opposed to making no order too (the `no order' principle).

be totally child focused! no bad mouthing Ex at all!!!! there are good cafcass officers and bad ones you cant predict which you will get.
A lot will depend on your own circumstances and what is the current set up for contact.
Although you would like to think cafcass is professional and impartial I have come across cases where this is not the case. Some manipulative exs can convince cafcass of untruths and lies. Your child will also be spoken to if they are all enough to see haw they feel and what contact they want.
Stay Calm, be child focused, no bad mouthing ex,
(which is what lostdad has said)