Family Time Child Contact Centre
In society, many families become separated, which leads to challenges regarding co-parenting and child Family Time. We have been providing supervised and supported child Family Time services in Portsmouth since 1995.
The Roberts Centre Child Family Time Service offers a safe and comfortable environment where children can spend time with family members they do not live with.
We are a child-focused impartial service, which puts the needs of the children first. Family Time Centres provide a facility for maintaining contact between the child and non–resident family members whilst a longer-term solution is established.
The centre also facilitates handoves, Supported, Supervised Family Time with or without notes, Escorted, Indirect, Virtual Family Time and Letter Box Contact.
The Roberts Centre Family Time Child Contact Service is an Accredited member of the National Association of Child Contact Centres (NACCC).
“I would like to thank you for your continued support and for looking after Sam’s interest as your primary concern. It was a refreshing change in these proceedings.”
Quote from a father moving from Supervised to Supported Family Time.
Case Study
The family started Supported Family Time at the Roberts Centre in April 2024. The children were 4 and 8 years old and hadn’t seen their Dad in 12 months.
The court order stated an initial visit on one hour increasing to two hours on a fortnightly basis.
During the family’s pre-visits the children were quiet and said they were worried to see Dad.
Meeting Dad for the first time Dad told the Contact Workers he was nervous and excited to see his children.
The first Family Time session was difficult for everyone, English is the families second language, and the children found it strange to talk to Dad in English, when Dad spoke in English the children said it didn’t sound like their Dad. Dad said ‘Hello’ in their native language and the children ran to Dad and everyone had big hugs.
Supported time continued to go well with Dad and the children enjoying playing games, arts and crafts and sharing photos and memories of holidays they had had together.
In July the court ordered Supported Family Time, and they moved onto handovers in October, where the family enjoyed time in the local community together.
At their final hearing in March the family were able to move away from the centre and have been organising contact between themselves.
“I feel happy to see mummy and daddy”
6-year-old child using the emotions wheel to communicate their feelings before Family Time starts.
June 2025
What We Offer
The Child Family Time 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 Family Time with their non-resident parent.
When requested, Family Time workers will support parents and children to encourage a deeper relationship between the child and the Family Time parent by aiding communication around the child’s interests therefore reducing stress and conflict.
The Child Family Time Centre is run by a team of trained staff and volunteers whose primary role is to help parents make sure their child’s Family Time experience is positive.
The most important people in the Child Family Time Centre are the children.
We are an Accredited member of the National Association of Child Family Time Centres.
*To apply to use the centre we require forms completed by both parties. Please note that only hand-signed forms can be accepted. please download, print and sign forms by hand.
Our Services
Family Time Service
The Roberts Centre Child-focused Family Time Service continues to be an Enhanced Accredited Family Time Contact Centre with the National Association of Child Contact Centres (NACCC). We provide safe Family Time in Portsmouth in order to introduce or re-introduce Family Time between children and their non-resident parents or other family members.
Our Family Time Centre offers a range of services including supervised, supported, preparation for direct and in-direct Family Time and handovers.
Every weekend we deliver supported Family Time to families in Portsmouth. There is a one-off referral fee for supported Family Time and then access to this service is free to families for as long as they need it.
Supervised Child Family Time provides closely supervised, individual family Family Time sessions.
In 2022/2023 we provided 158 families with Supported Family Time or Supervised Family Time .
Supported Family Time
Supported Family Time helps to keep children in touch with parents if trust has broken down or communication is difficult. Several families use the facilities at the same time making this a low vigilant Family Time with no written or verbal reports. We offer this service on a Saturday in two-hour sessions from 10.00am-5.00pm.
There are opportunities to volunteer within Family Time and other areas at the centre. Please click the link below for more information:
Handovers
When families agree family time can take place without the support of the centre, but parents do not wish to meet and have no other support available, contact workers will facilitate a safe and natural environment for the child or children to transfer between the care of their parents.
Supervised Family Time
Supervised Family Time is provided when it is assessed that there is greater complexity in a family’s circumstances. These sessions will be supervised by staff who are experienced in this role. The contact workers will supervise, support, and intervene if needed. We offer this service on a Wednesday – Friday from 8.00am - 7.30pm.
Observed Supervised Family Time
Factual notes of the Supervised Family Time are provided to both parties.
Escorted Family Time
Escorted Family Time is facilitated in the same way as Supervised Family Time and can be with or without factual notes. The child/ren are allowed to leave the centre with their visiting family member but are escorted by two experienced and trained contact workers, who will supervise, support, and intervene if needed.
Indirect Family Time
Virtual Family Time
Where a non-resident family member is permitted to communicate with a child by telephone or video link with one contact worker present.
Letter Box Contact
Cards/letters are sent to the centre, which is then read by a contact worker, before sending on. This keeps the address of both parties confidential and allows for post to be viewed before the child receives it. If the content is deemed inappropriate the sender of the post will be informed that the post cannot be sent on to the child. Post can be sent in both directions.
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.
Family Time Workers risk assess every case and allocate Family Time dates and times accordingly. All families must attend a pre-visit prior to Family Time sessions taking place and all parties must sign and agree to our ‘conditions of use’. All child Family Time sessions will take place at our centre in Portsmouth.
(Including privacy notice and conditions of use forms.)
Information about Family Time Contact
*To apply to use the centre we require forms completed by both parties. Please note that only hand signed forms can be accepted. please download, print and sign forms by hand.
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.
Important information:
What does it cost?
*Prices from Novermber 2025
There is a non-refundable Administration Fee of £130 is required to process each family's application form.
Handovers are £10 each way.
Supported Family Time is on Saturdays only and are £20 per Family Time session.
Supervised Family Time with notes and Escorted Family Time with notes is £70 per hour.
Supervised Family Time and Escorted Family Time without observation notes is £80 per hour
Indirect Family Time/ Virtual Family Time/
Post Box Contact are £30
(a subsequent charge of £10 per letter, if need to remove information, and speak to relevant parties etc.)
*Subject to personal circumstances, Legal Aid may fund Supervised or Observed Supervised Family Time please speak to a soclicitor for any legal adice.
Payment for our Handovers or Family Time services is required 7 days before the scheduled Family Time.
Availability
Supervised Family Time and Supervised Family Time With observation notes: By appointment only from Wednesday to Friday between 8 am and 7 pm.
Supported Family Time: Saturdays 10 am – 12 pm, 12.30 pm – 2.30 pm, 3.00 pm – 5.00 pm.
Handover: Monday – Saturday by appointment
Life story work/identity work/indirect Family Time: Wednesday – Friday by appointment
Parents guide
Download the CAFCASS Parenting Plan
or visit the CAFCASS website
Next Steps
• Complete, sign and return the attached application form to EC Roberts Centre.
• The Contact Service will notify the other party and request an application form to be completed, unless a joint application form is initially submitted.
• Upon receipt of both application forms and administration fee an acknowledgement email will be sent to both parties.
• The Robert Centre will process your application form. At least 7 working days is required to process application forms.
• Letters will be sent to both parties inviting them to attend a pre-visit. Please note these will be on different days and times. Please confirm you are able to attend.
• If age appropriate, once confirmation has been received the child/ren using the Robert Centre Service will be sent an introductory letter.
• Attend your pre-visit as per letter.
• Contact starts.