Hi.
We have an 4 day final hearing coming up in a matter of weeks.
We have been waiting for an experts report for some time which confirms that contact should remain supervised whilst the father completes the equivalent of the Domestic violence perpetrators course, completes a course on anger management and engages in therapy. When the matter is brought back to court, course facilitators and therapists need to give positive feedback, there needs to be an addendum assessment and then all things considers and no other concerns he can start to have short bursts of unsupervised contact but not ever have overnight contact.
The father wants to adjourn the hearing in order to ask the expert questions for the addendum report which could take god knows how long to come back as the expert took their sweet time with the initial report.
I think we all know abusers won't do such courses, I genuinely there is a VERY small percentage of abusive men who do show change and can go on to be safe fathers, but he ISN'T one of them.
I have told my solicitor I don't agree to the request to adjourn on the basis that the experts report has made robust recommendations, follow up questions are for the purpose of clarification only and won't change the recommendations (which I think he is hoping to do!!) I think if the expert changes her recommendations she won't be seen as credible. If he truly wants to see his child, he'll do the work and just get on with it.
I can estimate it'll add another at least 2-3 years onto the process already which has been going on for 4 years nearly. Our child will then be of an age where their wishes and feelings being taken into consideration.
For context, our child is happy going to the contact centre, she enjoys it and thinks it is fun. She has told the expert and the cafcass representative she wants to stay living with mummy and see daddy at the contact centre. She has expressed no desire for contact to increase or change so she can go to his house etc. I am happy with these arrangements, I haven't tried to stop contact nor will I.
My question is, what will adjourning achieve? it's yet another delay. Yes it may buy more time for us and he will still be having supervised. But in my mind, he will be having supervised either way! because I know categorically he won't want to do the work, he isn't motivated enough to change his behaviour.
Any advice on adjournment and its benefits in respect of experts clarification questions would be greatly received.
I am aware it is the Court's/Judges decision to adjourn, but I don't think Cafcass will support it, the Guardian has been reluctant to delay things.
I also am as well.