South West Family Services Ltd
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South West Family Services Ltd
  • Home
  • Our Services & Costs
  • Family Time
    • Family Time Services
    • Getting Together
    • Services from Cafcass
    • Co-Parent Family Plans
    • Co-Parent Communication
  • Family Support
    • Family Support Programme
    • Parenting Assessments
    • Family Support & Assess
    • Expert ISW's
    • Family Mediation
  • Child Services
    • Life Story Work - Child
    • Reunification
    • How It Looks To Me
  • Adult Services
    • Parenting Apart Course
    • Family Supervisor Course
    • Parenting Courses
    • Talk About It!
    • Life Story Work - Adults
  • Registration
    • Registration
    • Pay Fee or Invoice
    • Registration Process
    • FAQ & Preparation
    • Service Agreement
    • Child Resources
    • Helpful Links
    • Professional Referral
  • Get In Touch
    • Contact Us
    • Feedback
    • Feedback (Children)
    • Complaints & Safeguarding

FAMILY TIME & CONTACT SERVICES

What is SWFS Child & Family Support Programme?

Supervised Services

By agreement or by court order, supervised or enhanced sessions are available in family rooms or community environments. Supervised time ensure the physical safety and emotional well-being of a child when risks have been identified or are still being considered. 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 Services

By agreement or by court order, supported sessions are available in family rooms or community environments. Supported time aims to provide a safe, neutral and comfortable environment 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. 


In-Direct or Virtual

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


Handover Service

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


Letter / Gift Service

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


Preparation

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? 


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


Click here for our helpful links

Supervised or Supported?

Supervised or Supported?

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 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 be around if needed. 

Supervised or Supported?

Supervised or Supported?

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. 

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