Child Contact Centres

When family relationships break down often there can be problems with child contact. When this happens a client could consider using a child contact centre.

What is a child contact centre?

A child contact centre is a safe neutral place

• where children can spend time with a parent or other family member or
• can facilitate handovers.

Contact centres are run by a variety of independent organisations. Child contact centres are not connected to the courts and are run by trained staff and volunteers.

It is best to choose a centre that is accredited by the organisation NACCC [ National Association of Child Contact Centres] as they will meet certain set standards.

Information on child contact centres can be found at paragraph 41a- 41e on the adviser page.

What does a child contact centre look like?

Child contact centres are set up to be as comfortable as possible for the adult parties involved, and for the children, with toys and other facilities available.

Child contact centres have adapted the way they work during the coronavirus and if a client is concerned they should speak to the particular centre they will be using.

How to find a contact centre

A client can find a contact centre by using the search facility on the website for NACCC. It is usually best to choose a centre near to where the child/ children live, rather than near the client.

When should a child contact centre be used?

Whilst using a contact centre is not a long term solution, they can be valuable in restarting contact which, for whatever reason, may have broken down.

Who can use a child contact centre?

Child contact centres can be used by parties whose relationship has broken up, for contact with children of the family. Other family members, such as grandparents can also use the centres.

How does a client get a place?

A client can get a place at a contact centre by

• self referral ( completing the application themselves)
• being referred by the court
• being referred by Cafcass
• a solicitor or mediator.

A contact centre can be used to assist with

• Handovers — helping to handover the child/children from one party to another party at the start and end of contact.
• Supported — the centre provides a place where contact can take place. The staff can assist with the handovers of the children so the parties do not need to meet. There is no close observation or monitoring of the actual contact.
• Supervised — the actual contact session is overseen by a staff member who can intervene if there are concerns re safety.
• Supervised with reports — these contact sessions are overseen by a trained staff member who can intervene. The staff member will then prepare a report after regarding how the contact has gone.

Can child contact centres be used where there has been, or there is a risk of domestic abuse?

In situations where there has been domestic abuse between the parties or child/children a contact centre will undertake a careful risk assessment on receiving a referral. If contact is considered appropriate the contact may be supervised with a written report at the end of each visit.

What are the benefits?

• Handovers can sometimes be a flash point between parties, especially when they have recently broken up and relations can be strained. Having an independent third party doing the handovers can give the parties time to re- build trust.
• If one party is concerned about threats or abuse towards them from the other party then the centre can provide contact without the parties having to come into contact with one another.
• If one party is concerned that unwarranted allegations about their conduct are going to be made by the other party, then this can be avoided by using a third party, so the parties do not need to meet.
• Supervised contact with written feedback reports can be useful if one party alleges that the party seeking contact has no relationship with the child/children or acts inappropriately/poses a risk to them or the child/children. By establishing a regular pattern of supervised contact, with positive feedback sheets, an absent party is building evidence of their relationship whilst maintaining contact with the children. These positive contact sheets can help in court proceedings. Likewise if there are genuine concerns these reports may provide further evidence of this.
• If this is the only contact that can be agreed then it will keep contact going, perhaps while there are ongoing court proceedings or mediation. Keeping contact going in this way will help the absent party prove to the court their commitment to the child/children.
• The younger the child, the more significant a break in contact is and often the harder it is to re-establish it. Parties should therefore be encouraged to try this contact, even if it isn’t what either party or the children would prefer.
• Ensuring that a child/children can continue to have contact with a party after a relationship can help the child/children deal with a family breakdown.

How much does it cost?

The costs vary from centre to centre.

How to apply for a place?

It is possible for a client to refer themselves to a contact centre. The starting point for a client is to go to the NACC website to find a centre and then to contact them directly. The client will be given a referral form to complete. A risk assessment will be done and the application assessed as to which sort of contact is appropriate and what the other party will feel comfortable with.

Before contact, most centres invite the parties and child/children for a pre visit meeting at the centre to look around and help them feel more relaxed.

Summary

In situations where the only way to keep child contact going safely is a child contact centre this should be encouraged.

Contact in a centre can be a positive step for the parties and child/children in moving forward after a relationship breakdown.

FAQ

Answers to FAQ can be found on the NACCC site.

Caroline Baluch is a Family Law Expert in the Expert Advice team at Citizens Advice.

The information in this article is correct as of the date of publication.

Unfortunately, we are unable to respond to comments left on the medium site — please contact expertadvicesupport@citizensadvice.org.uk if you wish to give feedback on an article.