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So after my letter to the judge was taken into account (thanks again Nanny Jane!) I was given a date for a further directions hearing.
Had the hearing this morning and unfortunately was not given any more than my 10 hours a week... My ex dug her heels in and wouldn't budge so no new order was made.
However I do feel the Judge has had a change of attitude towards her, and is tiring of her quickly. The judge seemed impatient today as there are no safeguarding issues etc. The only reason my ex gave for not increasing contact is that 'she doesnt want to'.
The Judge has therefore ordered a CAFFCASS single issue report s7 to investigate what's best for my son.
To be honest I am a bit disappointed, I just wanted more time with my son. But hopefully once this report is done the ex won't be given a choice.
Anybody have any pointers on these sorts of reports? I honestly have no idea. My last one was just a phone call.
hi
im sorry i cant give you any pointers about CAFCAS visiting you because when i was going through court the judge wanted an order in place asap due to the welfare of my son and it was going to take up to 16 weeks for a report to be finalised. what i can tell you though is, i recieved a phone call from CAFCAS to do an over the phone interview with me. i told them a few concerns that i had and also told them that i had to contact the police on a couple of occasions. when they wrote up the report from the conversation they had with me and my ex, they said that there were no issues and no reports to the police etc. I thought it was an absolute waste of time (in my situation), however i did get my chance to let the judge know my concerns and told him that i didnt agree with the CAFCAS report.
best of luck and i hope CAFCAS do the right thing for you.
aaron
...the wheels of justice turn slowly. At least you feel the Judge is taking more notice of her negativity. I think you're right and once the report is in at the next hearing the contact time should be increased. I think the mothers reluctance to move it forward will help you to argue for a defined contact order that sets out a schedule of increasing contact...
A section 7 is more personal and will look at your environment and hers, and should want to see both of you interact with your son...I'm not sure if a single issue section 7 is more specific and will just look at one aspect of parenting. I'll see what I can find out. Take lots of photos of you and your son having a happy time during your contact, try and show that you do lots of things together, visits to petting farms, days out etc. and keep a record of it chronologically....it will provide a good overview of the quality of the contact your son enjoys with you.
Give some thought on how you want to advance contact and put a schedule together. As you have complied between now and the next hearing, you would respectfully ask for an increase at the next hearing, give specifics about this. Accept that this will go on for a short period and then advance the amount of contact time again. Small steps, increasing until you reach the amount of contact that you can be fairly happy with.
All I can find out is that a single issue report is very specific and the area of assessment in confined to the issue which should have been made clear when the judge ordered it. This type of section 7 should be completed within a 6 week time frame.
You should receive a letter from CAFCASS concerning the report that has been ordered, if it doesn't specify the area of the issue to be reported on I would contact the officer that has written to you and enquire.
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