Looking for experiences from others ...

I wanted to share an update on where I am currently at and see if anyone else has been through something similar, particularly where there is a criminal conviction, ongoing safeguarding concerns and a very high-conflict dynamic around child arrangements.

I'm a mum to a young child. My relationship ended following the discovery that my former partner had committed sexual offences involving a child. He subsequently pleaded guilty and was sentenced. He is on the Sex Offenders Register and subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order. The arrest was Aug 25.

The past year has been incredibly difficult. Alongside processing everything that has happened, I've been trying to protect my child, navigate Children’s Services and safeguarding assessments, and prepare for the possibility of family court proceedings. There was also a history of difficult relationship dynamics before the offence came to light, and since separation I've found the conflict has continued in different ways.

Where things currently stand

Children's Services have completed a Child and Family Assessment, and a separate risk assessment has assessed my former partner as presenting a medium level of risk. Supervised contact has been recommended, but there are ongoing difficulties around how this would work in practice.

My former partner will only accept his mum as the person supervising contact. Given the circumstances, I have concerns about whether this is an appropriate arrangement and whether the proposed supervision would provide the necessary safeguards. I also have concerns about the wider family dynamic and whether the risks are being fully understood and independently considered. Things have been said by his mum if you've read my previous post. I have said I want the work doing before I'll consider it and want to access engagement and suggested a contact centre as an alternative.

I'm finding it difficult to know how to move things forward when there are professional recommendations, but the practical arrangements remain disputed and I don't feel that all my concerns are being properly addressed.

Another difficult aspect is dealing with Children’s Services themselves. I often feel that when I ask for specific information, clarification or further work to be undertaken, the response is indirect, the question is sidestepped, or I don't get a clear answer. I find myself repeatedly having to follow things up and seek clarification, rather than feeling confident that the concerns I've raised are being fully explored.

I appreciate that professionals have processes they must follow, but when you're dealing with safeguarding concerns involving your own child, the lack of clarity can be incredibly unsettling. I'm trying to understand what I can reasonably expect from them, how to challenge things appropriately and how to ensure that important issues aren't simply left unresolved.

There is also a separate concern about the disclosure of my address.

I've recently discovered information that my new address was disclosed by Children’s Services to my ex partner. I've also found out an emergency response order was put on my former address, without my knowledge (my ex moved out immediately after the knock). This has left me seriously concerned about confidentiality, safeguarding and the potential implications for our safety.

I've submitted a Subject Access Request to obtain further information about what happened and have made a formal complaint to Children’s Services about the disclosure. I'm now waiting for answers and trying to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident, what information was shared, why it happened and what safeguards were in place.

Having to pursue this alongside everything else has added another layer of stress and has affected my confidence in the processes that are supposed to help keep us safe.

The ongoing high-conflict dynamic

Since separation, I've found that disagreements and pressure around decisions have become a continuing feature of the situation. I'm trying to maintain clear boundaries, keep communication child-focused and avoid being drawn into unnecessary conflict, but it can feel as though every boundary or decision becomes another issue to challenge.

I'm trying to balance protecting my child, working with professionals, documenting concerns and preparing for what may lie ahead, all while managing the emotional impact of the situation and trying to rebuild our lives.

I'd really appreciate hearing from anyone who has been through something similar.

- Has anyone navigated child arrangements following a conviction of this nature, particularly where the other parent disputes your concerns or puts pressure on you to agree to arrangements?

- Has anyone dealt with a situation where the proposed supervisor is a family member who is the only person the other parent will accept? How did you approach concerns about whether that supervision was genuinely appropriate?

- Has anyone had experience of a risk assessment identifying a medium level of risk? How did that translate into practical contact arrangements, and how were concerns about the assessment or proposed safeguards addressed?

- If you've felt that Children's Services were avoiding questions, not following through on requests or failing to address specific concerns, how did you get clear answers? Were there particular ways of escalating things that actually helped?

- Has anyone experienced a safeguarding or confidentiality breach involving the disclosure of their address? How did you find out what had happened, and did a Subject Access Request or formal complaint help you get answers?

- For those who have gone through family court in high-conflict circumstances, what helped you present your concerns clearly and keep the focus on your child's welfare?

- How have you managed the emotional toll of feeling that you have to keep pushing for answers and advocating for your child, even when you're already exhausted?

I'm particularly interested in hearing about the practical realities of navigating all of this over time — what worked, what didn't, how you dealt with professionals and how you managed to maintain your boundaries without everything escalating.

I know every situation is different, I would just really value hearing from people who understand this experience firsthand and can share what they learned along the way.

Thanks as always for the support you all offer.