Contact Centre
In society, many families become separated, which leads to challenges regarding co–parenting and child contact. We have been providing supervised and supported child contact services in Portsmouth since 1995.
The Roberts Centre Child Contact Service offers Supported, Supervised and Observed Child Contact in a safe and comfortable environment where children living with one parent/carer can meet their non-resident parent/family member.
We are a child-focused impartial service, which puts the needs of the children first. Contact Centres provide a facility for maintaining contact between the child and non–resident family member whilst a longer term solution is established.
The centre also facilitates handover.
The Roberts Centre Child Contact Service is an Accredited member of the National Association of Child Contact Centres (NACCC).
During 2022-2023 the Roberts Centre supported 158 families
“The centre has helped me with my ex-partner and has supported my daughter. The support has been amazing. Thank you for all you have done.”
Case Study
The family commenced Contact at the Roberts Centre in April 2022. The children were aged 7 and 8 years old.
The court order stated monthly contact for 1 hour and Dad was able to send gifts to the children monthly via letter box contact.
Dad had not seen the children for over a year. The eldest child had autism and was anxious about seeing Dad at the centre.
Contact commenced and the children appeared to enjoy seeing Dad.
On subsequent court hearings it was agreed that Dad could bring family members to the contact sessions, and Dad brought his Mother and his youngest child who was approximately 8 months. The children appeared to enjoy spending time with their grandmother and stepbrother. Contact had also increased from monthly to fortnightly.
Contact staff spoke to both parties, and they confirmed they were now communicating via a Family app. Both parties said this was proving positive.
At the final court hearing, it was ordered that the contact move to handovers for 2 sessions and then move away from the centre.
Since April 2023, the family have been organising Child contact themselves.
What We Offer
The Child Contact Centre is a place where children living with one parent can meet the parent they do not live with in a safe comfortable environment. Research tells us that children have better outcomes when they have contact with their non-resident parent.
When requested, contact workers will support parents and children to encourage a deeper relationship between the child and the contact parent by aiding communication around the child’s interests therefore reducing stress and conflict.
The Child Contact Centre is run by a team of trained staff and volunteers whose primary role is to help parents make sure their child’s contact experience is positive.
The most important people in the Child Contact Centre are the children.
We are an Accredited member of the National Association of Child Contact Centres.
Child Contact Service
The Roberts Centre Child Contact Service continues to be an Enhanced Accredited Contact Centre with the National Association of Child Contact Centres (NACCC). We provide safe contact in Portsmouth in order to introduce or re-introduce contact between children and their non-resident parents or other family members.
Our Contact Centre offers a range of services including supervised, supported, preparation for direct and in-direct contact and handover.
Every weekend we deliver supported contact to families in Portsmouth. There is a one-off referral fee for supported contact and then access to this service is free to families for as long as they need it.
Supervised Child contact provides closely supervised, individual family contact sessions.
In 2022/2023 we provided 158 families with Supported Contact or Supervised Contact.
Supported Contact
This takes place in a large playroom and up to eight families can attend each session. Contact Workers supported by trained volunteers observe the sessions. Conversations are not monitored. Supported Contact takes place every Saturday, with three sessions to choose from. Available in Portsmouth only.
There are opportunities to volunteer within Contact and other areas at the centre. Please click the link below for more information:
Supervised Contact
This is for one family at a time and two Contact Workers observe and monitor the session, including conversations. Supervised contact takes place Wednesday – Friday between 8.00am-7.00pm up to a maximum of two hours per contact session.
Observed Supervised Contact
This is the same as Supervised Contact with the addition of factual observation notes detailing the contents of the session, which are sent to both parents after each session. Observed Supervised Contact is available from Wednesday to Friday between 8am and 7pm by appointment for a maximum of 2 hours per session.
Handover
Where the non-resident family member can take the child away from the centre. The role of the Contact Workers is to facilitate the handover of the child from one party to another, so they have no need to meet directly. This is done at the beginning and the end of the time out of the centre. Handover can take place 6 days a week Monday to Saturday.
Using the service
All families must be referred via one of our referral forms, and are subject to a one-off referral fee. The referral forms must be signed by both parties and as such we usually request that families are referred via a third party such as a solicitor, social worker etc. Self-referrals can be accepted.
Contact Workers risk assess every case and allocate contact dates and times accordingly. All families must attend a pre-visit prior to contact sessions taking place and all parties must sign and agree to our ‘conditions of use’. All child contact sessions will take place at our centre in Portsmouth.
Download our conditions of use form
Sorting out separation
Knowing what to do or where to turn to when you separate can be difficult. If you’re a parent, you’ll want to make sure you do what’s right for your children. And if you’re a friend or relative of someone going through a break up, you’ll probably be looking for ways you can help.
Click on the link below to browse by topic to find general information and useful links on a range of separation issues. This could help you decide what support you need and make your own plan to meet the needs of you and your children.
What does it cost?
Referral fee – £130.00
Observed Supervised (With observation notes)- £75.50 per hour
Supervised – £66.50 per hour
Handover – £15 mid week (free on Saturdays once referral fee paid)
Supported – Free once initial referral fee paid (Saturday only)
*Subject to personal circumstances, Legal Aid may fund Supervised or Observed Supervised Contact.
Availability
Supervised contact and Observed contact : By appointment from Wednesday to Friday between 8am and 7pm.
Supported contact: Saturdays 10am – 12pm, 12.30pm – 2.30pm, 3.00pm – 5.00pm.
Handover: Monday – Saturday by appointment
Life story work/identity work/indirect contact: Wednesday – Friday by appointment
Parents guide
Download the CAFCASS Parenting Plan
or visit the CAFCASS website
