Guidelines and Rules for Contact Centre Users

Facilities for contact are available from l0.00am - l.00pm on Saturdays - Please stick to the agreed times.
We are open 48 Saturdays a year. All correspondence concerning contact should be sent to the Centre Manager at St Thomas Church, 1 Clapton Terrace, Hackney, London, E5 9BW.

1. No alcohol or drugs to be used in the centre. Anyone attending the centre who appears to be intoxicated will be refused admittance.

2. The centre is a NO SMOKING area.

3 . No mobile phones or tape recorders to be used during contact.

4. Whilst it is understood that Contact Centre Users are often involved in conflict with their former partners, aggression by anyone towards anyone at the centre will result in expulsion and permanent exclusion from the centre.

5 . Racism, sexism or other offensive remarks or behaviour are unacceptable and will not be tolerated.

6. The Centre Manager will process referrals and information given should be informative about the family expected. Copies of court orders relevant to contact should be enclosed with the referral form. Ensure agreement is reached between respective parties about who may attend contact prior to contact sessions taking place. Generally attendance is limited to people named in the agreement (and court order where applicable).

7. Social Workers, CAFCASS Officers and Guardians ad Litem may unobtrusively observe contact sessions by appointment and with the written agreement of respective parents or others involved or where a court has specifically ordered such observation.

8. The centre will close if less than 3 volunteers turn up for duty to ensure safety due to the layout of the centre.

9. No child should be left without a parent or an agreed person in attendance. The responsibility for the safety and supervision of the children while in the centre remains with the parent/person in attendance, and parent/person in attendance are asked to respect the centre's property.

10. No children to be removed from the centre without the written consent of the resident parent/person. With this consent the centre can if agreed be used simply as a hand over point.

11. Children or infants requiring assistance with toileting and nappy changing will be assisted by the person bringing the child/infant to the centre or by the contact person accompanied by a volunteer.

12.A contact telephone number must be provided to the centre by resident parents (or others) leaving child/ren with the contact person.

13.Prospective Contact Centre users can see the Centre by arrangement with the Centre Manager.

14.We ask that Contact Centre users who cannot keep an appointment, let their former partners know in good time and leave a message at the office or centre. If a family does not attend three consecutive sessions without notifying the centre they are automatically taken off the register and may have to be re-referred.

Breach of rules

1. All volunteers on duty during sessions attended by relevant users of the Centre will be shown copies of orders and undertakings.

2. It is the policy of Children First to ensure that all orders made by the court and undertakings are honoured by users of the centre.

3. If an order or undertaking is breached or there is an attempted breach a report will be made by those volunteers witnessing this and the manager of the centre will advise the legal representatives of the parties concerned at the earliest opportunity.

4. If it is deemed necessary by the manager or if there is a power of arrest attached to the order the police will be called immediately. The manager reserves the right to refuse future use of the Centre to any person breaching or attempting to breach a court order or undertaking.

Practical Arrangements

The centre has the use of a large room, the church crypt and a smaller private room. There are toys, games, puzzles etc., but you may want to bring your children's own things. Tea, coffee, fruit drinks, sweets, crisps etc. are available from our Tuck shop at all times. No alcohol is allowed on the premises and if a parent arrives having had too much to drink, they will be asked to leave. We also ask you not to smoke anywhere in the building.

The frequency of contact visits is up to you and your ex-partner, together with your CAFCASS Officer, Probation Officer, Social Worker or Solicitor (if they are involved). Sometimes the court will have a say. Please let us know how often you intend to come. If the contact parent is late, we ask the parent with residence to wait with the child until he or she arrives. If you have to alter your plans, please let your former partner know so he or she is not left waiting on a Saturday. If this is not possible, tell the person who referred you. Only on Saturday could you contact the Centre. Someone will be available to take a message but only during the hours of opening on Tel: 0208 806 7750 or 07950 376 970.

If you do not wish to see your former partner then please tell the volunteers as soon as you arrive and they will arrange it.

We have many families using the Centre so we ask that no more than one adult accompanies each parent. Only one adult to have contact unless other arrangements have been negotiated in advance with the Centre Manager.

We open at 10.00am and close at l.00pm. Please help by sticking to these times. Please remember that parents are responsible for the safety and supervision of their children whilst at the Centre. Where appropriate, parents to bring nappies and a change of clothing. We hope that the Centre will ease the problems of contact for your family and that you and your child/children will benefit. If you have any suggestions about how we can improve the service we provide or if you have a complaint about the Centre, please bring it to the attention of the Centre Manager or her deputy. It may be that on a few occasions in the year we will not be able to open. These times will be given well in advance.