Information
The aim of family time is to support face-to-face time for children with their family members if they are not living at home due to court proceedings. Family time also plays a crucial role in maintaining emotional bonds and fostering a sense of stability for children during challenging circumstances.
By ensuring regular and meaningful interactions with their family members, children can experience a sense of belonging, which is vital for their emotional and mental well-being. This connection helps to build trust, reduces feelings of isolation, and supports the development of a positive self-identity even when living apart from their loved ones.
What to expect?
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Frequency and time
The frequency and scheduling of family time are often determined by the court. Our service is designed to step in when Local Authorities face challenges in providing staff to facilitate these sessions. We are here to ensure uninterrupted family time by supporting children, families, and Local Authority social work teams during proceedings.
Supervised Family Time Written agreement and reports.
As part of our work, we require the Local Authority to provide a copy of the Risk Assessment and the Written Agreement.
The Risk Assessment should outline any concerns the Family Time Supervisor needs to be aware of, including potential risks to the children or the supervisor. It should also include any health issues or allergies of those participating in the family time, as well as any other critical information the supervisor must be informed about.
The Written Agreement must clearly specify the schedule and which family members will be attending. It should also include details such as the session duration, the names, ages, and support needs of the children, as well as guidelines regarding snacks, gifts, photo-taking, and sharing during the session.
A comprehensive report, including photos, will be submitted to the Local Authority's social worker and team manager. Additionally, verbal feedback will be provided to the parent or family member at the end of each session.
Venue
Family time usually supported in a family centre. TrueAbility is not able to source venues, this will remain the responsibility of the child's social worker.