Hi all,
Wondering how often do family court usually go with what cafcass recommends?
Bit of background, I split with ex when ds was 2 weeks old due to his excessive drinking and cannabis use and it was a volatile relationship. He had contact but waa never willing to increase it unless he sorted his drinking issues so things were very tense between us. When ds was 7 months old he tried to run off with him and then attacked me whilst he was holding ds. He was arrested but no further action was taken due to lack of evidence. My solicitor advised me that I should stop contact as there was no guarantee he would return ds and also the fact he's assaulted me. My ex took me to court and we had first hearing in June. The court ordered no contact based on cafcass recommendation until the court would determine if there should be a fact finding hearing as there were other allegations of DV. They also recommended alcohol tests be done. We went back for 2nd hearing in August and they decided there was no need for a fact finding hearing and because of the length of time that my ex hasn't seen ds which is 6 months and ds is 13 months old now that contact would begin in a contact centre for 4 weeks to reintroduce him gradually. Then he would see him alone every weekend for 5 hours on both days.
We are back at court this week as the contact centre local to us has closed temporarily so he wanted me to go the next nearest one which is miles away and i don't drive so would never make it for morning contact. So he is taking me back to court to force me basically. But there are no spaces in this centre until January as I have spoke to them direct.
Anyway I have had an email today with an updated safeguarding letter from cafcass. And my ex had a phone call with them on Friday and I have had nothing. I didn't even know cafcass were still involved. I find this a bit unfair as he has said things and I have no way to respond. Why didn't I get a phone call too? Anyway cafcass advice to the court is that there should be still no unsupervised contact and that it should be supervised in a contact centre or via a trusted 3rd party (there is no-one) and they are also recommending he also has tests for cannabis use aswell as the alcohol tests (this was ordered In August an still isn't done) they said they think a section 7 report should be done and then the contact arrangements can be reviewed then.
I am just wondering how likely the court is to go with what cafcass recommends as at the August hearing the court had already ordered contact to start in centre and then said he could have unsupervised after that. Now obviously this latest cafcass letter contradict me this so how likely is it they'll do with this?
Thanks for reading 