How Cafcass works with children
Michael’s story
Hello. My name’s Michael. I am
seven years old.
Last year my mum and dad were
shouting all the time, and one day my dad stormed off.
I was really sad when dad left,
and I didn’t really understand what was happening. My mum was upset
too, and one day dad came round but mum wouldn’t let him in. I
still wanted to see my dad, but I didn’t like telling my mum
because she got upset.
After a while, my mum told me that someone
would come and talk to me about what was happening. Her name was
Anne, and she said she was from
Cafcass. Anne talked to me about my mum and
dad, and then she came with me to see dad in a special room called
a contact centre. It had toys that I could play with. I played with
dad for a while on the table football, and Anne was watching.
I had a nice time and I liked seeing dad again. Anne also came
to see me at home, and talked to my mum there as well.
I told Anne that I liked
playing with my dad, and I missed him. But it was better at home
now there was no shouting and arguing.
Anne said that she was going to
write a report for the court about me and my family, and about
spending time with my mum and dad. I thought she was going to ask
me who I wanted to live with, but she didn’t. We talked about my
pets and school, and drew some pictures about dad and
mum. Anne told me that someone called a judge would decide
about me seeing mum and dad, but they wanted to know what I
thought. I didn’t say much about this, and Anne said that was
OK.
My mum and dad went to the
family court, and the judge listened to everyone, and read Anne’s
report. The judge then made a decision about seeing my dad, and mum
told me what they had decided.
Kelly’s story
Hi!
My name’s Kelly. I was 11 when my mum and dad split up. There was a
big row and dad left, and my younger brother Darren and I stayed
with our mum.
At first I did not really know
what was happening. I was worried because my mum was so angry and
upset, but I also missed dad. I heard my mum on the phone talking
to a solicitor so I thought something might be happening in court.
I wanted to ask about dad and granny who we used to see every
Saturday, but I thought mum might get upset.
A man from
Cafcass called Jim came to meet me and
Darren. I was a bit nervous as I thought he would ask me lots of
questions. However, he seemed to understand what it was like for
children when their mums and dads split up. Jim said he was
going to talk to us and write a report for the court to help them
decide what to do. He arranged to meet me and Darren in his
office as that was a private place to talk. Darren liked it there
because there were lots of good toys, and I found it easier to talk
to him than I thought it would be.
I told Jim that I knew mum
and dad were very angry with each other and that I didn’t want to
see any more rows between them. I also told her I missed my granny
a lot and her dog Spotty which we used to take for walks every
weekend.
Jim sorted it out so that Darren and I could
start visiting dad at granny’s house. I liked this better than
seeing my dad in his new flat as it felt strange there, and I
didn’t really know his new girlfriend. Jim also helped explain
to mum that I didn’t like her saying mean things about dad.
After a few weeks Jim came
back and talked through what he was putting in her report for the
court. I was worried about mum and dad being cross about what I had
told him, so Jim helped me sort out exactly what I wanted to
say to them. He said that he would suggest to the court that Darren
and I live with mum but see dad and granny every
weekend.
At the family court, the Judge
listened to everyone, and read Jim’s report, and then made a
decision about where Darren and I should live.
PS from Darren
I did not really know what was happening. I
thought my dad was working away from home and would come back
although I heard him shout at my mum a lot and that scared
me. Jim was nice although I did not fancy going to his office.
I thought it would be lots of boring talking. But there were good
toys. Jim did not make me say a lot. I was glad I had Kelly
with me. Jim had met my granny and knew we liked going to her
house at weekends. Now we go and see dad, granny and Spotty every
week.