Page 29 - WMPF Federation Feb-Mar2019-flip_Neat

Making arrangements for

your children after separation

By Joanne Green, separated parents. It shows parents practical order could be made at that hearing. If no
principal lawyer in solutions to help their family make the best agreement can be reached, the court will ask
family law at Slater and decisions for their children. CAFCASS to do a full report which will
Gordon I want to make an application to the Family involve making detailed enquiries which will
Court – what do I need to know? involve a worker meeting with your children.
nyone who’s If you do decide to make an application, you My ex-partner has been violent towards me
experienced a must have attended an initial meeting with – will the court take this into account?
Afamily break up a mediator called a ‘Mediation Information The Family Court takes any domestic
or has lost contact with and Assessment Meeting (MIAM). Such a violence extremely seriously. The court may
their children knows how meeting may not be necessary if you’ve been set up a ‘finding of fact’ hearing so it can
difficult life can be. the victim of domestic violence. Once the hear the allegations of domestic abuse and

decide whether contact is in the children’s
court has your application, it’ll refer your
It’s often extremely upsetting for
Going Call us everyone involved, especially the children. case to CAFCASS and set a date for the first best interests. A court also has the power to
hearing.
They’re in the middle of the dispute between
order a party to attend a domestic abuse
perpetrator programme. These courses help
What is CAFCASS?
their parents and are often most harmed by
It stands for the Children and Family Court
the ordeal.
people who’ve been abusive to partners to
It’s helpful for parents to try and see
through a before your issues from their children’s perspective. Most Advisory and Support Service. It’s change their behaviour and develop
respectful, non-abusive relationships.
independent of the court and social services.
children want to maintain a relationship
How will the court make a decision about
It’s there to help you and your ex-partner
with both of their parents and they want
my children seeing my ex-partner?
reach a safe agreement about the
The law makes it very clear that the welfare
arrangements for your children. Before the
their parents to try and reach agreement.
divorce? ex does. most frequently asked questions: first hearing, it’ll carry out background of the children is the court’s paramount
Here are a few answer to some of the
safety checks with the police and social
consideration. Any order is an assessment of
what’s best for your children. It puts the
I can’t agree the contact arrangements with
services to find out if there are any safety or
children at the heart of the decision. The
welfare issues connected to your family. A
my ex-partner. What should I do?
It might be that you need a little extra help
to reach agreement about your children and worker from CAFCASS will also telephone Family Court will take into account the
you and your ex-partner to find out more
evidence from you, your ex-partner and the
one option would be to think about about the current circumstances. recommendation made in the CAFCASS
We’ve been working with the Police mediation. A mediator is an independent What happens at the first court hearing? report. Quite often, the views of older
Federation for over fifty years – person who helps people without being on The aim of this hearing is to see whether it’s children will carry a lot of weight.
Our expert team have years of
longer than any other firm. No anyone’s ‘side’. There are other options such possible for you and your ex-partner to make experience representing parents who are
a safe agreement for your children which the
as the Separated Parents Information
one understands better the unique Programme (SPIPs). This is a course that’s court could approve. The court will also try going through children disputes to secure
pressures of police work and how designed to help parents become clear and narrow down the issues between you. A the best possible outcome. If you’d like
to protect your rights – including about what their children need most from CAFCASS worker and the judge will speak to specialist advice from a family lawyer please
your pension. If you’re going them and learn the fundamental principles both parents. Sometimes it’s possible to contact Slater and Gordon on 0808 175 7710
through a divorce, we offer a free of how to manage conflict between reach a satisfactory agreement and a final and we’ll be happy to help.
initial consultation, a divorce fixed
Joanne Green,
Principal Lawyer fee package of £350 plus VAT and Working together for all members
in Family Law at Court fees and discounted hourly
Slater and Gordon rates plus we give you access to some The Police Federation of England and Wales all of our members across all areas of The following groups are members of
of the country’s best family lawyers. (PFEW) has reaffirmed its commitment to policing are heard. I don’t want this just PASL:
working more closely with police support to be a talking shop. I want it to have a l The Police Federation of England and
If you think we could help, call us on associations for the benefit of members. tangible outcome I want it to be a real Wales
0808 175 7710 The National Police Association of benefit to those people who look to l National Black Police Association
Strategic Leaders (PASL) was formed with these support groups and I want them l National Association of Muslim Police
slatergordon.co.uk/police-law the Federation and the blessing of the Home to understand that the Police Federation l Christian Police Association
Office three years ago to bring together the are there for them. We are working with l Jewish Police Association
Offices throughout the UK. full spectrum of police faith, race, disability, your supportive leaders to make sure that l Disabled Police Association
sexuality and gender groups to share their your voice is heard at every level within l National Police Autism Association
unique perspectives and work collectively. policing.” l National LGBT Police Network
Meetings take place quarterly at PFEW’s The memorandum reiterates PFEW l National Trans Police Association
headquarters in Leatherhead, and in January and PASL’s commitment to eliminating l British Association of Women in Policing
members joined national Federation chair discrimination in all its forms and commits l Chinese and South East Asian Police
John Apter in signing a memorandum of to working together to improve equality Association
understanding (MOU), formalising and for all police officers in England and Wales. l West Midlands Sikh Police Association
further strengthening those links. It promises to hold meetings at national l Gypsy Roma Traveller Police Association
John said: “ Support groups from level to discuss matters of mutual concern, l Police Pagan Association
across policing are working with the Police and invite representatives to attend l National Association of Chaplains to the
Federation to make sure that the voices of respective national conferences. Police.
www.polfed.org/westmids federation February/March 2019 29
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