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Dear All,
After my recent directions hearing, the magistrates ordered a Section 7 to be completed by SS.
Until this is completed i'm not even allowed supervised contact until it's completed, my ex is already stating that she doesn't want contact resumed until the rerport is carried out as she is fully willing to say i will never see my son again unless the S7 says otherwise.
This was said in the court room. I was devastated.
The nearest court date we could get after the completion of the section 7 was in December.
It will have been almost 6 months by then since seeing my son, in that time he has missed fathers day, my birthday, i will miss his birthday, his uncles birthday as well as his grandad's birthday & also his mother wouldn't let him see his great nan, she was terminally ill & wanted to see all the really young great grand children before she passed.
We're trying to get it brought forward on a technicality.
My main question is, what should i expect from a Section 7 with SS involved, is it a home interview or phone?
A Section 7 is quite an in depth report and they will want to visit you at home, they should also want to observe you with your children...ask them if they can do this, although because of the directions the court has made about no contact, this might not be possible. They should also speak to the children to find out their wishes and feelings. If there has been previous SS involvement or any convictions these will be included in the report .
My little boy will be 3 within the next few months so i'm not sure they would take his views into account?
As i've not seen him since June & won't be until the report & court date is due in December i'm unsure as to how they could do an observation?
I have 1 x previous conviction for criminal damage, other than that, nothing except for a few parking tickets.
Ragoo I appreciate these times are difficult and that you may be subject to some unsavory comments by your partner hence why the courts
Sadly with regards to section 7 I suspect it is where you live and who is doing it. Cafcass unfortunately in my case decline to see me at home with the kids (a 3 and 1 year old). Instead as my wife alleged today CAFCASS were so concerned that they were going to recommend supervised visits.Luckily the judge though differently and instead said she should hand the kids over to me directly.
Social service however I suspect will see your interaction with your child. When is the report due.
If there are no serious allegations perhaps you could attend court asking for an emergency hearing to restablish contact....even if supervised and for a few hours as your son is of an age where it is important for his development and his rights as a child to see his father. From this you can then build up contact once all the reports are completed.
BW
Ragoo I appreciate these times are difficult and that you may be subject to some unsavory comments by your partner hence why the courts
Sadly with regards to section 7 I suspect it is where you live and who is doing it. Cafcass unfortunately in my case decline to see me at home with the kids (a 3 and 1 year old). Instead as my wife alleged today CAFCASS were so concerned that they were going to recommend supervised visits.Luckily the judge though differently and instead said she should hand the kids over to me directly.
Social service however I suspect will see your interaction with your child. When is the report due.
If there are no serious allegations perhaps you could attend court asking for an emergency hearing to restablish contact....even if supervised and for a few hours as your son is of an age where it is important for his development and his rights as a child to see his father. From this you can then build up contact once all the reports are completed.
BW
Thanks for the reply, the S7 is due mid Nov i believe.
The allegations were against my current partner,(i don't even live with her).
They said that they don't feel i can 'protect' my son from my current partner, or see the risk she poses & as such refused even supervised at a contact centre (my ex refused this), the court said they couldn't decide anything until an S7 & risk assessment was completed. Which is where we are currently at.
The reason my current partner is of no risk is because she has had a risk assessment done a month or so ago & it said she is no risk. Besides, she hasn't even met my son yet & wouldn't of until i'd disucssed this with my ex. It's all a big mess.
I understand the magistrates point of view however, if the mother has alleged serious things against me, then they can't be seen to be ordering anything until reports are generated.
I know what you are saying that your partner is no risk because that has been proved now, buy unfortunately the SS will have to investigate that themselves, RISK is the operative word here either from you or your partner.
You have to understand that episodes like Baby P happen because SS didn't investigate properly and nowadays as you know the whole population get up in arms and if there is some thought of risk somewhere they must investgate, because we (us, the UK) now bring down Social Workers for their failures.
But I would ask the Court for an interim contact order, even if supervised.
The risk does need to be investigated but I fail to see why the use of a contact centre was denied! After all that's what they're for.
Have you discussed appealing with your solicitor?
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