Section 7 and Final Hearing

[NameChangerinDespair]

I have been told the recommendations of the Section 7 today, though I haven't yet been given a copy of the report. They are recommending that they remain in the care of my ExH, even though I have been the Primary Carer since he left four years ago. He retained them after routine contact at the start of lockdown, I think having been given a strong nudge to do so by SWs. He didn't allow me to see them for seven weeks. There was some LA involvement but the Children had remained with me in our home whilst I was doing what was needed and I have fully engaged with what they have asked of me personally and the house. It's a long story ... Does anyone know of similar cases where the Judge has gone against Section 7 and the Children have been returned? I am very despondent.

Also in Chat for traffic.

What’s has your Solictors said OP? Why were SW involved and why would he nudge them him to keep them- were there concerns re them being in your care?

Why would thye nudge him to keep them I mean

That bit has never been fully explained to me: they weren't removed from my care and the LA hadn't issued anything like a letter before Pre-Preceedings. My house was dreadful, hoarded when they first became involved, but it has moved on considerably (and had when they decided to escalate things) but, even after the ICPC, the Children were still based with me (and I met all targets from the Review in the time allocated). My Children were clean and loved and fed and high-achievers at School, 100% attendance ...

My Solicitor wants to see the report to see what they have based the conclusions on.

Bump

Maybe focus on trying to get as hear to 50/50 care as you can?

He lives an hour away, which is the problem.

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Pls. I am feeling so hopeless.

I didn't want to read and run but hope someone is along with some advice for you soon.

Grateful for the bump @Teatwosugars88

Honestly I'd just puse for as much contact as you can manage. If he has the backing of SW I think that will go in his favourite and courts tend to go with the status quo unless there are real concerns.

He lives in another City, which is why they have recommended the contact they have. Is it really the status quo when they have just been with him over lockdown, no real life at all? I raised concerns about the SWs long before it got to this stage but was told I couldn't have different ones and, before they had even been asked to do a Section 7, they said they supported his case, which they had to row back on a bit but, I think, shows their mind was made-up. Tbh, floundering a bit as I have carried the burden both physically and financially these four years and he is now swooping in and being the hero. He still has CMS arrears and did stuff like default on the mortgage I ended-up taking on, but the context of these pressures and their effect on the welfare of the Children has been disregarded.