Having recently attended a Cafcass interview in order to ascertain my suitability as a father I was taken aback that the staff, both women, steered me away from the subject of my daughter despite protestations and insisted quite categorically on discussing issues with my ex wife. This is quite a cental issue as SHE is the one refusing to allow me to see my child and cites my lack of suitability as a parent. They failed to make any assessment of my relationship with my daughter and focussed on my ex wifes allegations which have included threats to kill, abuse, harrassment etc. These along with all her other allegations have been proven to be false and malicious by both the law enfrcoemnt agencies involved and witnesses- they have been designed to paint me in a bad light. Their report was innacurate and no attempt was made to varify the information my ex provided - the simple perusal of my passport would have extinguished the validity of one claim, letters to my solicitor from witnesses of other allgations would disprove all other allegations, photographic and video evidenc would have evidenced my interaction with my daughter.
The report found that I was a danger to my child!!!! - despite informing them that I baby sit my god son 2/3 times per week. Further on one occasion my ex abandoned my daughter at the contact centre and left her to my care in full view of witnesses - yet this was viewed as an abduction and reported as such despite letters from the staff at the contact centre stateing that I was left with little choice but to take her home or allow social services to pick her up.!!!!!
As a psychologist and qualified psychoanalytic councellor I am astonished by their findings. Their total disregard of information provided and lack of interest tilted the report 90% in favour of my ex wife and skirts over issues raised by myself.
In short despite the police and home office taking me seriously I am in danger of losing contact with my child simply because I am a male, asian and the victim of false accusations that have found an ear.I feel that no end of stereotypes must have been employed in there quite damming account of me - gained in a mere 45 minutes and rushed through as they had "a busy schedule."
Though I doubt anyone can make a suggestion when faced with such weighted damnation against fathers I can only conclude that Cafcass does not exercise it's discretion but merely aplies an ineffectual model and resorts to type rather than perform it's given role of providing opinion based on individual cases.
On the last occasion at court the judge was also suprised at the report and requested that a further report be produced and despite attending with references from my proffessors, shared parenting centre, friends etc I was advsed that I can only present it at the appeals stage.
In light of it's history I am left with no doubt that Cafcass continues to under perform and reiterate the rather common feeling that this organisation has a
Batman | Email | Homepage | 03.18.05 - 1:32 am | #