Support after court
There are many reasons why a family might find themselves involved with the family court; these reasons can often be intensely painful and very private. Having these issues interrogated in the court arena can be a long and difficult experience for parents and children.
It is important that you take care of your physical and emotional health during and after proceedings. If you are finding this difficult you should speak to your GP in the first instance.
If your emotional health gets so bad that you feel like you will hurt yourself or want to take your life, then please call 999. You might also want to consider speaking with one of the following helplines:
Samaritans – 116 123
Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) – 0800 58 58 58
Papyrus (Prevention of young suicide HOPELINE247) – 0800 068 41 41
If you have concerns about your child or the way they are being cared for after the end of proceedings, then you should contact your child’s social worker (if they have one). In an emergency you should always contact 999.
The Family Rights Group are a charity that advises parents, grandparents, relatives and friends about their rights and options when social workers or courts make decisions about their children’s welfare. They operate a free telephone advice line open Monday to Friday between 9.30am and 3pm (excluding Bank Holidays) on 0808 801 0366. For Textphone dial 18001 followed by the advice line number.
Cafcass does not have the legal power to stay involved with your child’s case beyond the end of proceedings, however if you would like to give us feedback on how we have done you can do so by scanning the QR code in your welcome or goodbye letter – or you can download a feedback form from our ‘I want to give feedback or complain’ page.