Ongoing emotional harm and alienating behaviour by resident parent identified in LA report NEED advice

[H78]

Hello

I am a litigant in person.

My ex has made escalating allegations of abuse against me. I was initially accused of abducting our son however I do not have family outside of the UK, ironically it is the applicant that has the international element to the allegations and furthermore I have a court order preventing the applicant from travelling due to threats made by the applicant to take our child to another jurisdiction.

The LA conducted a s.7 investigation.

It was identified that the child was subject to adult conversations that has shaped his view of the non resident parent and wider family of the non resident parent.

It was identified that child was subject to ongoing emotional harm from resident parent due to alienating behaviour.

Resident parent informed child that non resident parent was in prison and that is why child cannot see non resident parent. Non resident parent has never been to prison or even cautioned or charged with any offence.

I also challenged the applicants legal aid as the applicant was not eligible and the certificate was revoked.


Lies.Lies.Lies. I can prove.

I really need some guidence as I cannot afford representation.

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Dear H78

Welcome to the parents’ discussion board. Thank you for your post. My name is Suzie and I am Family Rights Group’s online adviser.

I am very sorry to hear of the difficulties you are experiencing. I can see that the situation is complex and distressing.

You are a litigant in person in private law proceedings and seeking advice and guidance about this. Unfortunately, private law advice is outside our remit. However, I will provide contact details of services and websites which I hope will be of use to you.

We advise about children’s services. You say that the local authority provided a section 7 report to the court. If children's services are still involved with your child in a child in need or child protection process and if you have any queries about this then do contact the advice service again.

I hope that the information below about private law or help at court will be helpful:

Child Law Advice family line 0300 330 5480, Mon to Fri, 10 am to 4 pm, email or webchat.

Advice Now have downloadable guides to making child arrangements and going to the family court without a lawyer. They also offer ‘affordable (paid for) advice from a panel of solicitors if needed.

Advocate: a charity offering free legal advice from volunteer barristers

Support Through Court: a charity offering help with form filling and procedures but not legal advice.

A Handbook for litigants in person

If you are a father you may be interested in our advice for fathers and the support services listed here.

I hope this is helpful.

Best wishes



Suzie

[Logical60]

Hello I am a grandparent and my son is going through a similar situation my son and I have access to our grandchild every other weekend as per court order.recently we were told by his mother very suddenly and communicated by text that we could not see him again no explanation and that was that. We were then contacted by social services and my son was arrested and being charged for physical abuse. These allegations are not true and I can’t understand why people would do this? Any advice would be greatly appreciated thank you

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Dear Logical60

Welcome to the parents’ discussion board. Thank you for your post. My name is Suzie. I am Family Rights Group’s online adviser.

I am sorry to hear of your family’s difficult situation. I understand that this is a distressing and confusing time for you. I will reply to your query here today but as you are a grandparent if you need any further advice please post on our specialist kinship carers’ discussion board. I respond to queries on that forum and other grandparents and relatives also provide advice and support to posters which you may find helpful.

Your grandson lives with his mother. You explain that there is a court order in place, a Child Arrangements Order, for contact. You and your son used to spend time with your grandson on alternate weekends.

Recently, your grandson’s mother texted to deny contact. It is now clear that your son has been accused of physical abuse. Police and children’s services are now involved. Your son was arrested. Police lead the criminal investigation whereas children’s services are the lead agency in terms of protecting children. It is likely that children’s services are completing a child protection investigation. However, your son should contact children’s services directly to clarify this.

In terms of contact, the court order remains in place unless one of the parents applied and the court agreed to vary it. However, as there is a police investigation into an allegation of physical abuse, children’s services are likely to have told your grandson’s mother not to allow contact while the criminal process and children’s services’ investigation are ongoing. You say that your son has been charged so he may also be subject to bail conditions which he is legally required to keep to or face criminal consequences. Bail conditions may prohibit your son from having contact with his son

You do not believe that the allegations are true. Two statutory services are currently investigating. Children’s services’ focus is on safeguarding your grandson during this time. They apply a lower burden of proof e.g. the balance of probabilities and are asking your grandson’s mother to protect him during this process by not allowing contact.

It would be a good idea for your son to get legal advice from a criminal solicitor about the criminal investigation. He can discuss this and any bail conditions with a criminal solicitor.

Even if bail conditions do not prevent contact, it is likely that children’s services recommend that your son does not have any contact or any unsupervised contact with his son. Your son should ask the social worker to confirm to him in writing what their current recommendations around contact are and when/how they may change.

He should also ask the social worker to keep him involved and informed in the assessment of his son’s needs. It is a good idea for him to confirm that that he will cooperate fully with children’s services and the police’s investigations.

Please see our advice on child protection and child in need assessments which will help you and your son understand the process that is happening. Children’s services are required to complete assessments within a maximum of 45 working days, but they can be completed sooner. I cannot say how long the police investigation will take but your son can try to clarify this with a criminal solicitor.

Your son may also be interested in our advice for fathers on child protection which you can find here.

If you or your son require further advice then please get in touch again. As mentioned above we have a kinship carers’ discussion board which you can use, and your son can post here if he wishes. We also have other options for seeking advice which you can access via this link.

If your son would like private law advice in relation to the existing court order for contact he can get in touch with Child Law Advice.

I hope this is helpful.

Best wishes

Suzie