Have name changed as v outing.
Trying to keep a long story short without drip feeding.
My ex took me to court a few years ago as I refused 50/50 contact and maintained that my daughter (5 at the time, 8 now) was better off with me more in term time as it is more settling for her. I won the case and the court ordered 5/14 which I thought worked v well.
I have suffered from mental health problems since a teen. After the court case and subsequent break down of a relationship with my ex they got progressively worse and I was unable to get my daughter to school on time and unable to leave the house due to panic attacks. My new partner would take her in and I would collect her but sometimes she would be waiting a while as I was unable to leave the house.
I made consistent errors around time keeping as I found myself falling further and further down a deep dark hole, social services became involved, and then my partner left me. I let my daughter down and my ex had to step in and look after her full time over the summer as I had to try and recoup and recover.
Social services put DD on a child in need plan and told me that I was to engage with them. However the appointments I had to get to were impossible for me - I can barely leave the house so I was never able to make appointments on time.
Because they see me as not engaging with them they have recommended that my ex go back to court and amend the court order so that he has full custody. I am not eligible for legal aid so if I was to contest I would need to represent myself.
In the last month I have found mental health support and I feel positive for the first time in years. I am confident that I can get back on track and repair my relationship with DD. My ex is being supportive and letting me see her for overnights on a Saturday and a few hours in the week. He is adamant he will still go to court despite my progress in the last few weeks. The court date is for the beginning of December.
Is this it? Have I lost my daughter? If social services have made a recommendation will the court just follow?
I understand that there will be a cafcass report and I'm hoping to show them that I am trying my best to get better for DD.