Child care and survivor-support service receives boost
Vincents Solicitors has expanded its specialist family and child care team once again with two new appointments. Family law solicitor Fahrat Unnisa will focus on helping victims of domestic violence with urgent and ongoing support.
Fahrat Unnisa joins Vincents from Farnworth Shaw in Nelson, prior to which she was at Watson Ramsbottom in Blackburn where she worked with Val Shaw, head of child care department at Vincents.
“Fahrat has spent most of her 22-year career working with victims of domestic abuse in East Lancashire. She is also a member of the Family Law Advanced Panel for domestic violence and children.
“Victims of domestic violence need fast and effective access to justice. Within hours of being contacted, we can use the courts to help them by making an urgent application for a non-molestation order to prevent the perpetrator from being violent and threatening towards the victim.
“Where children are involved we can also secure emergency orders to prevent a partner from taking away the children, ensuring the safety of everyone in that critical period up to the hearing date, and through the process thereafter,” said Fahrat.
“By working closely with the refuges and domestic violence initiatives, I am asked to get involved at the very earliest stage to help a victim and their children with their immediate needs, and bring together the evidence for the later court case.
“There are, of course, domestic abuse victims who don’t use a refuge or seek help from a charity, who may not know where to turn, and for whom a legal specialist should be their first port of call.”
As an Urdu and Punjabi speaker, Fahrat is also able to offer tailored support for families who may be struggling with a language barrier in domestic abuse or other child care matters. She can work with families who are involved with social services from the moment they are issued with pre-proceedings and throughout any subsequent child care hearings.
Fahrat said: “I’m keen to focus exclusively on child care and domestic violence cases and to work as part of a really strong team. I was impressed with Vincents’ experience within the Family Law department, and the child care team in particular. Val Shaw is very well respected in this field and being able to work with Val once again was another huge draw for me.”
Child care department head Val Shaw said: “Domestic violence and survivor support is a very sensitive area of work which requires the utmost professionalism and empathy. Fahrat’s arrival complements the team’s existing strengths and provides our clients with access to highly skilled practitioners in all aspects of child care and private family law.”
To contact Fahrat and the child care team to discuss how Vincents can assist, please call 01772 555 176.