This page is split into two sections, the top part is about Self Referrals, the lower part is about Professional Referrals. Where do you want to go?

Guidelines for Self Referral

Receive a letter from the Centre

A copy of the same letter will be sent to both the resident and non-resident parents. If we are able to offer your family a place for contact the letter will give details of when and where it will take place. The letter will also give details about the arrangements for contact, such as who will be bringing and collecting the children.

Length of time that you will be able to use the Centre

The Centre will in the first instance only offer you three sessions of contact. Additional sessions will be subject to these being completed successfully. Each session is for 2 hours.

Confirmation

If you have been offered a place you will be required to contact the Centre within five days to confirm your acceptance of it.

Our Policies

All of our Policies are available to view at the Centre or by request.  There is also a Complaints procedure, which can be used should there be any problems.

You can download and save these guidelines by clicking the button below

Self Referral Form

We have two versions of this form. If you have MS Word on your system please use that version which will allow you to edit it on a computer. If you do not have MS Word please use the PDF version, download and print it. Fill it in and return to us. Please use either the Resident Parent or Non-Resident Parent according to your circumstances. 

Resident Parent

Non-Resident Parent

The basic elements of supported contact are:

• Impartiality
• Staff and volunteers are available for assistance but there is no close observation, monitoring or evaluation of individual contacts/conversations.
• Several families are together in one room.
• Encouragement for families to develop mutual trust and consider more satisfactory family venues.
• Apart from attendance dates and times, no detailed report will be made to a referrer, CAFCASS, a party’s solicitor or Court, unless there is a risk of harm to the child, parent or Centre worker.
• An acknowledgement that it be viewed as a temporary arrangement to be reviewed after an agreed period of time.

1. Please do not refer a client without contacting the Child Contact Centre Administrator first to check availability of space and time.
2. A completed referral form should be received by the Centre Administrator (see instruction at the end of the referral from for its return) 10 days in advance of the date which your client would like contact to commence. If the Centre has a waiting list, a completed referral form should still be sent, the Centre will then notify you when a place becomes available.
3. Only people named on the referral form will be allowed admittance to the Child Contact Centre. This may be varied by written agreement by both parties.
4. Parents are responsible for their children at all times whilst they are at the Child Contact Centre.
5. Please ensure that both parents have read and understood the Child Contact Centre’s information leaflet in advance of contact starting.
6. To try and maintain a friendly, impartial and confidential environment, we would request that you do not at any time ask to see your clients on our premises without prior agreement.
7. Only dates and times of a family’s attendance will be disclosed unless it is felt that anyone using the Centre or a volunteer or member of staff is at risk of harm. In the unlikely event of it becoming necessary to quote a Administrator in any report, due to a Centre user or volunteer being at risk of harm, the form of words used should be checked and agreed with that person concerned beforehand.
8. Child Contact Centres providing Supported Contact will not knowingly accept a referral when somebody involved has been convicted of any offence relating to a) physical or b) sexual abuse of any child, unless there are exceptional circumstances and they have sought appropriate professional advice
9. The Child Contact Centre reserves the right to reduce or terminate contact if it is felt to be in the best interest of the child.
10. Parents should be informed that because the welfare of the child is paramount, there might be times when contact cannot take place if the child is too upset even if there is a contact order.
11. Referrers should make arrangements for the provision of an interpreter where English is not the first language of the family involved and problems may arise with communication.
12. The Centre should be viewed as a temporary facility to help establish contact. The Child Contact Centre will be asking for your assistance to review the family’s progress after six months.
13. Please notify the Child Contact Centre Administrator if the arrangements for contact is going to change or if contact is going to cease.

Our Policies

This Centre is a Member of the National Association of Child Contact Centres and operates in accordance with its National Standards for Child Contact Centres. We have working policies on the following:

• Child Protection and Safeguarding.
• Confidentiality.
• Health and Safety.
• Equal Opportunities and Diversity.
• Domestic Violence.
• Volunteers.
• DBS Disclosures

All these policies are available to view at the Centre or by request. There is also a Complaints procedure, which can be used should there be any problems.

You can download  and save these guidelines by clicking on the button below:

Professional Referral Form

We have two versions of this form. If you have MS Word on your system please use that version which will allow you to edit it on a computer. If you do not have MS Word please use the PDF version, download and print it. Fill it in and return to us. 

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