Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Contact Centre?

A children's contact centre is a neutral meeting place where children of separated families can enjoy contact with their parent/s and/or connected other. 

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The term connected other refers to grandparents, aunties, uncles, cousins and those that share a close relationship with the child(ren) having contact. 

 

We have created a safe and comfortable environment, where your child and their contact adult can meet, talk, play or read together. 

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Why use a Contact Centre?

At Time Together Contact Centre we recognise that separation can be a really difficult time and that some parents struggle to communicate, agree arrangements, see each other, and share their children with their ex-partner or extended family.

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A relationship breakdown between you and your partner, however, should not affect the bond your child shares with you both, and the importance that you have in their life. Breaking such a bond can have a devastating effect on your child’s happiness and their ability to reach their potential as they grow and develop.

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What are the different types of contact?

Time Together Contact Centre offers several different types of contacts to meet your child’s needs: 

• Supported Contact 

• Supervised Contact 

• Community Contact 

 

Pl​ease see our Contact Services page for more details.​

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Are the staff at Time Together Contact Centre staff neutral?

Time Together Contact Centre is independent of the Courts, Social Care and Cafcass.

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Our staff are neutral and are trained to concentrate on your childs needs rather than any ongoing disputes between you and your ex-partner or other family members.

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How can I access your service?

You must complete a referral form and return this to the centre via email or post. 

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You can make a self-referral or be referred to us by either a Cafcass Officer, a Solicitors the Courts, a Social Worker or an agency. 

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How quickly can I get a contact session set up?

​This varies as this will depend on the requested time of the referrer and the availability of the centre to provide such contact. 

 

Before your first session can be arranged, you will have to fill out referral form and a risk assessment will take place.

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Contact arrangements will then be made with you at your first meeting, known, as your contact pre-visit. 

 

If you have a particular timescale in mind or things are urgent, please ring the centre first to make sure they can help, before starting the process.

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How long does the referral process take?

The length of the referral process depends on parental cooperation, the judicial process, and availability of our sessions.  We normally turn risk assessments around after initial referral in 3 weeks.  It depends on the complexity of the case and the number of parties involved.

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Is there a cost attached to contact?

Yes, prices are available within our pricing section.

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Will I need to see my ex-partner?

Not if you do not wish to, if it is not safe to do so, or if you believe the meeting will impact negatively on your child.

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Staff will facilitate a handover at staggered intervals to ensure that parents do not have to meet.
 

How will you know about my child needs?

All contact will be subject of a risk assessment undertaken by our Centre Coordinator, in consultation with your social worker, solicitor, mediator or family court advisor. There will also be opportunity for you to meet with us before contact starts.

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Before contact is agreed, we will have an excellent understanding of your family, the problems you have all experienced, and more specifically, of your child’s needs.
 

Are there rules at Time Together Contact?

Our first and foremost priority is to keep your child safe, so yes, we have rules.

 

Our rules, expectations, terms and conditions will be discussed with you the Pre-Contact Visit.
 

Will you write a report on us?

If supported contact is offered we will not provide a report, other than a record of attendance.

 

However a report will be produced during supervised contact and shared with relevant parties.

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Can I have input into/disagree with what is written in the Centre’s report?

​If a court asks for a report on how contact is progressing, a qualified member of staff at the Centre will write the report having observed contact.

 

Their report is an independent report, and you will not be asked for your views on it.

 

If you have concerns about anything in the report, you may wish to raise this in Court although please be aware that because it is the trained staff member’s independent assessment/view, it is usually not appropriate for parents to influence the conclusions in the report.

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