This review serves as a stark warning to any parents who are victims of domestic violence & have to deal with Cafcass and the family court. My two children still remain in the residence of the father on bail at an undisclosed address after being taken after immediately a serious assault, leaving all three of us still ongoing —victims of domestic violence—and in potential danger. She advocated for my case to simply be dismissed and no order made and recommended no fact finding was needed. I don’t know where they are and have had no contact or update on them all no for 3 years. SEEK LEGAL ADVICE AT ALL COSTS before dealing with them - I wish I had. I can’t sleep every night. This has been living hell on earth and a life sentance for me.Dismissal of domestic violence: Despite the father facing criminal charges including counts of grievous bodily harm (GBH) and actual bodily harm (ABH) at Crown Court. Caffcass proactively took action to dismiss criminal case out of the equation and reported it after a chat with the father as “boiling over”, an embarrassment for my son which she then reported back to me smugly. She only spoke to my son with the father overseeing and only once or twice.Caffcass's behaviour & conduct involved victim-blaming and mockery. She belittled the abuse and suggested it is not harmful to my children and I need to tell them about it if I have an issue with it!!! As if to mock the fact I don’t even know where they are or have their numbers anymore! She focused heavily my time in the hospital and recuperation from a traumatic assault—to imply that I was at fault for my child's alignment with their father as physically absent. All this time I was dismissed through clear non-verbal cues like eye-rolling and tutting. Furthermore, the official deliberately omitted my concerns by pointedly physically stopping writing tutting when I spoke, only then angerly writting down their own questions and things I didn't actually say. The report intensely toxic &traumatised me, it contained horrible wording about me with no evidence as fact. At this point I called women’s aid in distress who said this is commonplace for Cafcass who live in a bubble where domestic abuse and violence conveniently for their workload doesn’t exist.She said she recommended and encouraged my child to state, with the father present, that he wanted to "never see me ever again."and went a step further to suggest to my child that it could be "life changing". The report also called me an "embarrassment" due to the fact police were called by the NHS in the report. It has taken me months to recover from her visit and reading her report - I even had to take time off work. I don't think I will ever recover from this and its impacted my ability to attend Crown court as a witness.The Guardian's actions actively supported the father's abuse agenda - not my children’s right to welfare, obstructing safeguards and the facts of evidence with CPS to the court. I still have not had any contact or updates regarding my children's health and academic progress. This whole report and Cafcass visit caused me such severe trauma that I was unable to attend the subsequent family court hearing. Also the last time I was able to go, his barrister constantly aggressively approached me in the waiting area where I was alone, stating the case would be dismissed. Ultimately, based on the Guardian's report the courts took no action other than dismissing the case, citing the child's age (he was 14 when removed) apparently no order was necessary. I assume they know each other what more can I say. I believe my child's and my Human Rights were seriously breached. She denied my child’s welfare, enabling continued emotional and potential physical abuse. She even inappropriately and insensitively boasted to me about unrelated achievements including getting children to have contact with parents in prison.Cafcass has failed to act despite the clear danger of coercive and physical abuse, citing my child's age (over 14) and his having his "own voice" as a reason for inaction. This excuse appears to minimise the gravity of the violence, treating it as an inconvenient embarrassment.It is a disgrace that public taxes fund a service that lets down families so severely. Unlike the police and criminal courts, the Family Court system has no accountability or welfare processes, allowing Cafcass to support severe abuse and intimidation with the father who is remanded on bail.Conflict of Interest: I was informed that Cafcass officials are "friends" with the more aggressive solicitors, raising serious questions about whose interests are truly being served. I strongly warn others to secure legal representation when dealing with Cafcass, as their conduct in my case demonstrates they cannot be trusted.
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