Cafcass , has anyone had experience of them ?

[frumpet]

just need to pick brains on behalf of a friend

have been dealing with them for a number of years cos of my exh what do you want to know?

Any more details? Have had close dealings with 2 Cafcass officers - they have an almost impossible job to do IMO. Is it the process your friend wants to have some info on?

Hi thanks for the replies . Basically my friend went through a rather acrimonious divorce which finished last year . Her exH has always had access to their dd's , although he has chosen not to take up one of the access visits because it curtails his social life ! As far as the children are concerned friend and her ex have managed to be fairly civil . Anyway out of the blue he texted her to say he was taking her to court for more access , he has decided to represent himself , and has asked for cafcass to be involved or are they automatically ? Cafcass has contacted my friend via a letter , with a seperate letter for the older child which friend has gone through with her . Oldest child is only 5 and has never really wanted to go with her father on access visists , he has never been a particularly hands on dad .
He has a new partner who he lives with , although he denied this throughout the divorce due to financial reasons . He didnt introduce the children to her in a staged way , basically he said she was here so they would just have to get used to it . The new partner rang my friends house and was verbally abusive to her , she has also slagged off friend to friends dd's.
The ex seems to think the court will auotomatically give him more access , he says he has concerns re their care , but he hasnt served papers to friend yet so she has no idea what these concerns are . No agencies are involved , school has no concerns and no health professionals are involved . Also if he had concerns would it not have made sense to voice these during the divorce ?
Her solicitor has told her to represent herself at the first hearing as the courts tend to favour those representing themselves if that makes sense ?
Also prior to him applying to court he has made no effort at mediation etc .

Sounds like it will be fairly straightforward. Cafcass usually try and contact parents prior to the first hearing - is the letter like a 'welcome pack' outlining what they do? They may also ring her.

If your friend is offering contact at a reasonable level then Cafcass can sort out an agreement and end the proceedings, it just saves everyone time and money. How much contact does he have at the moment?

Has your friend got evidence of knobbish behaviour like rude texts/emails? If so, hang on to it. It sounds like the man is trying to demand more access purely as a way of being annoying (or perhaps to demonstrate to his new GF that's he's a 'great dad' and your friend the XW is a cow), but your friend needs to not let him see she's rattled, just treat him with calm politeness, be reasonable, and if anything appear mildly amused by his posturing.
Best of luck.