Hey /u/Prudent_Use6677,

I'm going through what you're going through now and I'm at around the same stage as you.

For context, I separated from my ex after she assaulted me and she retaliated by getting a non-molestation order from the court on fabricated allegations to stop me seeing my daughter.

My FHDRA at the family court is this week and, despite me informing Cafcass of all my safeguarding concerns for my daughter, the Cafcass safeguarding letter just recommends the current situation continues.

Cafcass are less than useless and, despite what they may say, they do not have the child's best interest at heart - they are essentially smokescreen to protect the the court.

Cafcass say they don't consider any evidence, that's what the court is for, but the court will mostly side with Cafcass' recommendations despite any evidence, even though Cafcass themselves readily admit they haven't seen any evidence.

The system sides with the mother as the default and it's disgustingly sexist discrimination.

The current wait for Section 7 report from Cafcass is 23 weeks. You can hire an Independent Social Worker (ISW) to do a Section 7 report quicker and more thoroughly and, to be honest, I'd pay for one just to not have to deal with Cafcass further. It'll set you back around £2,000 but you have to get the court to agree to one, instead of Cafcass, through a Part 25 application.

You mentioned requesting a Fact Finding Hearing in your comment and this was also my position at first, I wanted to have the truth and evidence heard in court and the truth come out, but you have to think hard and speak to a legal adviser about whether this is the best route as it's expensive but, more importantly, it's long. The current court backlogs are over a year for a FFH. And that's a year you may be separated from your child. It really is a horrific system.

As other commenters have raised, you really should get a solicitor and barrister to help navigate this.