Helping a Father to re-establish contact despite a hostile Mother

Marie represented a Mother in an application by her former partner for a CAO to spend time with their child. The Father had been convicted of violence against Marie’s client, and had last seen the child as a baby – so there was no current relationship between Father and child.

The case was listed for a final hearing to determine whether contact should be introduced and all of the factors set out in Practice Direction 12 J in relation to how any risk to the child or Mother could be managed if contact were re-introduced.

A further s.7 report from Cafcass was ordered, along with a report from Probation on the domestic violence programme the Father has complete. Outstanding Safeguarding Checks were also completed and a final hearing was listed.