Case Study: Transforming Family Dynamics and Child Well-Being – ICFA Peterborough

Since being awarded the Improving Child and Family Arrangements (ICFA) contract by Cafcass, Children’s Links has been dedicated to helping families create safe and sustainable child arrangements. This story highlights the journey of a family who used our ICFA service, demonstrating the positive impact of the service on their lives. 

In September 2023, Children’s Links received a referral from Cafcass to support a family struggling to make child arrangements on their own. The parents had never lived together and both suffered from poor mental health. Their relationship was fraught with conflict, allegations of domestic abuse, and deep-seated mistrust. The child had not seen his father for a year, and the situation was tense and challenging. 

The mother, anxious about the contact sessions, required extensive reassurance before and after each meeting. The Children’s Links staff member spent considerable time calming her fears, emphasising how well the sessions were going and how happy the child appeared with his father. By the second session, the father had brought a changing bag with nappies and snacks - a small but significant step showing his growing confidence and readiness to care for his child. 

The father, initially nervous about reconnecting with his child after such a long absence, needed guidance and support to manage his child’s needs. Our amazing staff member provided continuous reassurance, helping him build confidence in his parenting abilities. 

As the ICFA intervention progressed, it was recommended that the contact continue through supported sessions at the Peterborough Contact Centre. Both parents agreed, appreciating the ongoing support from Children’s Links. 

One significant breakthrough came when the mother agreed to use a parenting app to communicate with the father. This decision, reached after numerous supportive conversations, significantly improved their ability to interact positively. 

After several months of supported contact, the mother felt comfortable transitioning to the handover service, where she received further support to manage her anxieties. Eventually, she agreed to allow unsupervised contact. The father now enjoys a full day with his child on weekends and is set to begin overnight care. 

In July 2024, the mother called Children’s Links to share an update. She reported that the unsupervised visits were going well and expressed her satisfaction with the current arrangement. She felt comfortable enough to ask the father to care for the child overnight while she attended a wedding, a significant milestone in their journey. 

Both parents are now working together effectively, prioritising their child's well-being. The father has overnight access every other weekend, starting with one night and gradually extending to longer durations. This positive transformation in family dynamics underpins the success of the ICFA initiative. 

Through focused support and intervention, the ICFA service has facilitated a positive parenting environment. This has ensured the child's needs are met and promoted a harmonious relationship between the parents. The profound positive effect on the child's well-being demonstrates the effectiveness of the ICFA service, highlighting the significant difference it can make in families' lives.