Indirect Contact - Cafcass

[Bobbie098]

Cafcass have recommended no direct or indirect contact between my 1 year old and dad. Main concern is untreated mental health and refusal to engage with professionals, plus drug use. This led to lots of emotional/verbal abuse, threats, and dangerous behaviour.

Nothing is court ordered yet, still waiting for the next hearing.

Dad is asking for email updates and pictures. I have refused so far and he says I'm making his mental health worse and being malicious. He says it's not indirect contact because it's between us parents, and child won't be aware of anything.

Should I send updates? Is it going against cafcass advice if I do? If I don't send anything, will I be seen as being awful or taking the cafcass advice "too far"?

Thank you in advance for any help/advice

Can you speak to the cafcass worker to clarify? He's not necessarily wrong that some pics and a brief update that child is unaware of isn't contact. Perhaps you can set some boundaries eg I'll send a few pics and a little update of child's week every Sunday afternoon or something like that. So he isn't pushing you for them all the time.

Do you feel safe having this level of communication with him? Would it potentially give away information about you or your child that would increase the risk from him?

Speak to your Cafcass worker if you’re not sure. But if there’s a safe way to send generic information, you won’t be criticised for doing so.