Cafcass guardian visit

[Courtnightmares]

Been in long and protracted as well as acrimonious children's proceedings for well over three years now.

Cafcass recommended the court instructed a psychologist to undertake psychological evaluation of parents. Father is dangerous and abusive and has only had supervised contact in a contact centre for a number of years.

Psychologist considers him to be a danger to both DD and I and has recommended indirect contact as a long term measure as long term supervised will be damaging for her as she gets older.

Cafcass guardian is visiting us at home soon and I don't know what to say to her. I have been very matter of fact with her so far. The Guardian will write a final report after her home visits.

Is it likely she'll agree with the psychologists recommendation if she has recommended the court instruct an independent expert?

I'm so worried and scared.

Usually, it is rare for a guardian to disagree with an expert. You must be feeling a bit more hopeful. Still quite important that you make sure that you are seen to be only concerned for your child’s best interests, as I am sure, you are. You will know what I mean. Hope it goes well.

Yes, you are right and I do always put our child at the forefront. Just scared about the next hearing. Dds father doesn't accept he was abusive in any way.

I had a very positive report from CAFCASS years ago.

I may have just dropped lucky however. I would say i approached it like a business meeting.

I had evidence he had tried to kill me, strangled me whilst Ds was in my arms..

I had a letter with his diagnosis on it. (Mh) .

She was going to recommend no contact without a psychological/psychiatric assessment.. he withdrew anyway.. so that was tge end of that.

Generally if CAFCASS or other parties disagree with the recommendations of an expert assessment they would need to put their rationale to the court and ask for an addendum. For example, I don't think it's robust enough, hasn't covered x,y,z. If all parties are accepting the expert report as it stands then it will almost certainly inform the recommendations of the report. It would be very, very odd for it not to and you would have good grounds to challenge the CAFCASS recommendations if they did. In essence although I know you won't feel safe until its all concluded this should be fairly straightforward now. In terms of today, you can be honest you can tell the social worker that visits that you are pleased the report reflects your lived reality and you feel the recommendations are the right ones for you and your child.

Thank you. The Cafcass guardian is the officer who wrote the section 7 and she recommended that the court instruct an independent expert as the case needed further examination.
I think my worry is that DD has an otherwise pleasant time at supervised contact. So would the guardian agree to indirect contact as supervised is continuing indefinitely is damaging, supported in community isn't possible and unsupervised is a no go. The psychologist explained her rationale for indirect contact as the best long term measure as her father is incapable of change.
I just don't know. The court love to give chances don't they, but their chancing on a young child's life vs her fathers inability to change and be a safe parent.