Representing a Mother concerned about sexual harm

Marie represented a Mother where the Father has a Child Arrangements Order for contact with their child. However the child made disclosures of potential sexual harm in the Father’s care and contact was suspended. A s.47 investigation was carried out by Children’s Services and the concerns were substantiated, although sexual harm by the Father was not proved.

The Father made an application to enforce the CAO, but, due to the way it was drafted, it was not enforceable and therefore the court is treating his application as a fresh application for a CAO.

At the FHDRA the Court appointed a rule 16.4.Guardian and ordered an Initial Analysis and there will be a direction hearing in due course. The Court also ordered discourse from the Police and Children’s Services in relation to that investigation, and that the Father undertake hair strand testing.

The Court also made an order for a PSO to prevent the Father from removing the child from the Mother’s care and an order that the child live with the Mother