Family Time & Contact Services

Supervised Family Time

By agreement or by court order, supervised or enhanced services are charged hourly and includes a written report

Supervised sessions ensure the physical safety and emotional well-being of a child when risks have been identified. It also assists in building and sustaining positive relationships between a child and members of their family. It can take place in a variety of places including at home, in the community or in our family rooms across the south west, or in a location nearer to you.

Supported Family Time

Supervised Family Time

By agreement or by court order, supported contact is charged hourly and includes a brief email overview of session but no written report

Supported contact aims to provide a safe, neutral and comfortable enviroment for children to see their parents or family. It can take place in a variety of places including at home, in the community or in our family rooms across the south west, or in a location nearer to you. Our team are available for assistance but there is no close observation or evaluation of individual contacts or conversations.

What is right for us?

Supervised Family Time

What is right for us?

The key difference is the level of observations such as being able to see and hear and being with the family.

During supervised family time the worker will come into the park with you, sit with you in the cafe and be alongside you at all times to ensure they can hear and see everything. They will be an active participant observing the sessions. During supported family time the worker may sit on the bench outside the park or sit outside the cafe and won’t be able to see or hear at all times, won’t get involved and will stay back as much as reasonably possible. During supervised sessions the worker will not leave the family and will be with them and be able to hear and see at all times. During supported sessions the worker might pop to the loo, grab a drink, sit away from the family and will be more distant and will not be able to see and hear at all times but will always be around.

Speak to us, and check out our useful guide below.

In-Direct or Virtual

Supervised Family Time

What is right for us?

Observed and managed video or phone calls are charged per 30 minutes and includes a written report

Letter/Post/Gift Exchange and other alternate methods of contact are offered. All letters/gifts are checked carefully and delivered within 48 hours of receipt as detailed in our service agreement

Other Services

Handover Service

Charged per handover and available from various locations across the South West

Registration

There is an initial registration fee per family. The initial child introductory visit is not included in the charge. Concessionary rates may be available

Preparation

Other Services

A key part of the work we do is supporting children and parents with reintroducing children and a parent they have not spent time with or where there is an issue with how to do that.

Perhaps the separation was very difficult and the parents couldn't agree, or maybe there was significant domestic abuse, or parents health matters. There are lot's of reasons, but we can help children and parents navigate this. Get in touch!

What's Next?

Other Services

What's Next?

Click here to read our FAQ and prep for family time services.

Click here for our helpful links

Click here to register!

Supervised or Supported?

The key difference is the level of observations such as being able to see and hear and being with the family.

During supervised sessions the worker will not leave the family and will be with them and be able to hear and see at all times. During supported sessions the worker might pop to the loo, grab a drink, sit away from the family and will be more distant and will not be able to see and hear at all times but will always be around.

If supported and the parent has opted to still have reports they may be more vague because the worker is not as involved.

If supported the parent and child may choose to see other people or do video calls, although we encourage this is always by agreement with the other parent prior to the session but we don’t enforce this unless specifically agreed.

During supported the parent may send gifts home with the child, but we still do not allow letters or cards or money to be handed between the child, recognising that we do not check everything as thoroughly because it’s supported rather than supervised.

Regardless of supervised or supported some things do not change, such as where the family can travel, using vehicles and going to private homes.

The Details

Where: At home, in school, in the community, at one of our family rooms or in a location nearer to you.

How Much: The Charge is dependent on what type of service, how often and for how long. South West Family Services are affordable and accessible and will work with families to ensure children can spend meaningful time with parents, other relatives or siblings wherever possible.

For Agency funded contact services please email us to get in touch so we can provide a quote and quick set up.

Timescales: Our referral service is online, easy and allows the process to be streamlined, safe and confidential. We aim to have services in place in days, not weeks or months.