Mr H and his ex-partner split in acrimonious circumstances. Both made allegations about the other to the court. Two Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass) officers gave the court incorrect information about Mr H and he had to go to some trouble to put the matter right.
What happened
The first Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass) officer told the court that Mr H had admitted to an allegation that his ex-partner had made against him. Mr H had to make a number of phone calls to Cafcass before it accepted that he had not admitted it. It finally changed the document just before the next hearing.
The second Cafcass officer later told the court that Mr H was not engaging with her efforts to meet him. But this was not true. She later filed another report to the court that had some minor mistakes.
When Mr H complained to Cafcass, it accepted that it had made these mistakes and wrote to the court to say so before the court made a decision about the children's custody.
What we found
Cafcass had showed a lack of attention to detail and poor judgment. But it had admitted its mistakes and, crucially, had told the court about them so they did not affect the judge's decision in the case.
We thought, however, that there was more it could do to put the matter right.
Putting it right
Cafcass paid Mr H £500 compensation for his unnecessary distress and inconvenience.
Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass)
UK
Not applicable
Not applicable