Fathers Voice
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The guides

Three practical books, free to read in full. Lived experience, peer support and researched information for England and Wales.

Social services

Beyond the Referral

For fathers dealing with social services. From the first call from a social worker to the case closing.

16 chapters

Download PDF 1.5 MBRead as one page
  1. A note before you begin
  2. Urgent checklist
  3. Your rights as a father
  4. Introduction
  5. 1The first 48 hours
  6. 2Stay steady under pressure
  7. 3The mistakes that make it harder
  8. 4After a referral: what happens first
  9. 5What social care is actually trying to decide
  10. 6Reading the assessment without it flooring you
  11. 7The conclusion and what happens next
  12. 8Meetings and conferences
  13. 9When concerns or allegations are raised about you
  14. 10Your children through this
  15. 11Keeping a record without losing yourself in it
  16. 12Feedback and complaints that actually go somewhere
  17. 13When police are involved
  18. 14Finding your place in the system
  19. 15Looking after yourself
  20. 16After the case closes
  21. Scripts at a glance
  22. Contacts and resources
  23. Sources

Family court

Family Court Roadmap

For fathers who want to agree, make or keep arrangements for their child. From things slipping to living with an order.

20 chapters

Download PDF 1.2 MBRead as one page
  1. Introduction
  2. 1Stay steady when arrangements start to slip
  3. 2The mistakes that make it harder
  4. 3What the family court is actually trying to decide
  5. 4Trying to agree first
  6. 5Applying to court: the C100
  7. 6Urgent applications and prohibited steps orders
  8. 7Cafcass and the safeguarding stage
  9. 8Section 7 reports and hearing your child's voice
  10. 9When concerns or allegations are raised
  11. 10Keeping a record without losing yourself in it
  12. 11Position statements and the court bundle
  13. 12Hearings and how to conduct yourself
  14. 13Getting the right help without overspending
  15. 14Living with the order
  16. 15When the order isn't followed
  17. 16Enforcement: the application and what the court can do
  18. 17When enforcement isn't the answer
  19. 18Changing an existing order
  20. 19Looking after yourself through it
  21. 20The long view
  22. Contacts and resources
  23. Sources

Parenting apart

Parenting Apart

For fathers parenting after separation. Boundaries, calmer communication and running two homes, from the first months to the long view.

14 chapters

Download PDF 1.1 MBRead as one page
  1. Urgent checklist
  2. Introduction
  3. 1When the relationship ends but the conflict doesn't
  4. 2Separation grief and how it shows up in men
  5. 3What boundaries are and what they are not
  6. 4Boundaries start with you
  7. 5Communicating with the other parent
  8. 6When boundaries are pushed
  9. 7What your children need
  10. 8Money, maintenance and the legal side
  11. 9Co-parenting, parallel parenting and the space between
  12. 10Handovers, school, health and holidays
  13. 11New partners and blended families
  14. 12Looking after yourself through it
  15. 13Moving forward
  16. 14Dating again and the long view
  17. Scripts at a glance
  18. Parenting plan outline
  19. Contacts and resources
  20. Sources