What service do I need?
This will depend on a number of factors
- what has been ordered by the Court
- what service we are willing to offer following your initial meeting, subject to our risk assessment
- what is in the best interests of your child/ren
How do I make a referral?
You will need to complete our referral form, available from our download button, and pay our non-refundable referral fee of £120. We will not proceed with any referral until both of these are received.
What happens next?
Separate initial meetings will be arranged with both parents upon receipt of the referral form and fee. While we endeavour to offer a date for the initial meetings within two weeks of receipt, this is subject to both parent’s availability and our own. Once the initial meetings and our risk assessment are complete, we will negotiate a start date with the parties if appropriate.
Do we accept all referrals?
No. Following completion of initial meetings, we will make a decision as to whether we are able to offer a service. We use the guidelines issued by the National Association of Child Contact Centres (NACCC), in order to make such decisions, and there may be occasions when we are not able to offer a service, such as when there are on-going criminal investigations or pending safeguarding investigations by the Court. Should this be the case we will provide information to the parents as to why this decision is made.
How long will I have to wait before contact starts?
Following completion of initial meetings, during which we have been satisfied that it is appropriate to start family time sessions, we aim to arrange the first session at the first available opportunity, usually within four weeks. However this is dependent upon parent and child availability.
How much will it cost and who pays?
This is no longer a subsidised service and unfortunately we have to cover our costs. It needs to be mutually agreed by the parties as to who will cover the cost of using Families Forward. The price of our services are as follows:
- Supervised Family Time £100 per hour
- Community Supervised Family Time £100 plus additional £50 to cover half an hour travel time
- Supported Family Time £50
- 1 way Handover £20
- 2 way Handover £40
- Indirect/Letterbox – letter/card only – £20 per occasion plus postage
- Indirect/Letterbox – gifts – £30 per occasion plus postage to include one item and letter/cards. Each additional item add £2.50 per item
- Indirect/Letterbox – electronic – £10 per occasion
- Supported Indirect/Letterbox £50
- 1 hour review meeting £50
Will I have to see my ex-partner?
No, we arrange staggered arrival and departure times.
Is there parking at the Centre?
We have a large, free private car park at the rear of both of our venues.
How long do I have to use the service for?
That will depend on the Court and are also subject to our reviews of the work.
Will I get a written record of the sessions?
The cost of our supervised sessions include a copy of the written record to both parties. On request we can provide attendance records for our supported and handover services. It is your responsibility to provide these notes to other professionals involved.
Who else can help me?
Please see our resources page
