Contested Hearing

[moomooland01]

I have a final contested hearing coming up.
I'm contesting the recommendation of the S7, the ex agreed to it, has anyone ever come out the other side successfully?
Recommendation was for 12 yr old to reside with his dad, simply because they were his wishes. He hasn't attended school in six weeks whilst in his dads care and loads of other things have been going on with him, dad has mental health issues, 12yr old is on a CIN plan.
My final statement along with evidence of alienation has gone in. I just wondered if anyone managed to come out the other side smiling.

What contact with you does it recommend ?
Has the education welfare officer been involved if he's missing school ?

If this is hat your ds wants then it might be hard to fight. But make sure ou get all contact you can . At 12 it s ds responsibility to get to school .

I think you will struggle contesting an S7. It is unlikely that the whole report simply says 'because he wants to' - although children's wishes are central to these reports, there is a whole welfare checklist that has to be considered. And as children get older, they can 'vote with their feet' and courts have to consider what will work.

Could you support the report but go for lots of contact?

No. Supporting it isn't an option.
The SW was only assigned to the case the day before the report was due to be filed, she then she visited the next day and none of my concerns were put into it.
He's on a child in need plan because he's at risk with dad yet they recommend he stays? I don't get it.