CAFCASS - tell me what you think about them

[OnlyWantsOne]

go on... you know you want to

they are extremely understaffed which means there is always loads of delays and umpteen people dealing with a case!

I sort of feel sorry for them. There isn't enough of them and whatever they do will upset one parent or another.
I've had some dealings with them and they did their best, but they aren't there to support the parents. I think they also come in from some stick for apparently favouring mothers. But they do seem to bend over backwards to ensure daddy is still involved even when he's been abusive to the mum.
But then, which is best kids seeing dad, or mum being supported?

TWATS!!!!!!

like any service that is state funded - there are good and bad. overall i had a good experience.

Oh God - was hoping that I would look at this and feel better!! My kids got wishes and feelings thing with CAFCASS next week and EXH's GF is emotinally and psychologically trying to blackmail my DC with threats and DD can't take anymore. CAFCASS have said legally I can stop contact but that may go against me in court (dc and I are tryng to move home to Scotland from England and X trying to stop us - from a control POV you understand not a devoted dad stance). LONG story but was hoping CAFCASs could help my DC as I am powerless at the moment. Looks like nightmare will run and run.

well my view is along the same task as mosschops

They have said one thing (seemingly to keep me ^happy) and done another. They have leaked private information about me and my DP to my exP and his wife, they are unable to keep any deadline, and seemingly, always on fucking annual leave in the time between sending out a report and a court appearence - HELPFUL

My CAFCASS officer was lovely. She took all the time in the world to listen me, she understood and she was very supportive. I had left my ex due to DV and he was taking ME to court for a contact order even though he had open access CAFCASS officer knew his game and had him sussed right away. She was concerned about him having any access at all due to the possibility of emotional harm to DD and made sure that I have liberty to apply to the court for contact to be reassessed if I suspect DD is suffering in anyway.

So my experience with CAFCASS was good and I would have no hesitation in contacting them if I need to. HTH

do you think that my experience has any thing to do with me having two male cafcass officers, and they are very pro my male exP?

Our CAFCASS officer was a lovely lady, she had to ask my then 6 yr old questions and i found her to be very liberal, and this comforted me at a terrible time in our lifes.
It is a hard job like social work and i take my hat off to them.

CAFCASS for me was a long time ago, maybe they were better funded back then but I found there involvement was positive. Things can get awfully emotional and it's helpfull for someone independant to 'try' and identify from all the dross and nonsense what is in the best interests of the children.

Surely the ideal, that both parties want for their children, is for the child to have a loving relationship with two happy parents who take equal responsibility for their upbringing, be they together or apart.

Oh well, people have to deal with realities of the situation and lifes just a hell of alot more complex. I'm sure it's not a easy job for CAFCASS. Be it male of femail CAFCASS officer, father or mother, it's not about being pro exP it's about being pro child.