Yes, supported and supervised contact centres accredited by NACCC will have a set of rules. The rules will be explained to you during the contact pre visit/agreement meeting and then you will be asked to agree to the rules of the centre and sign the pre-visit agreement to confirm that you understand and are agreeing to adhere to them. Failure to do so will lead to the service being withdrawn.
Sample rules for parents using a contact centre – it is worth noting that any rules at a centre you might attend might vary from this list.
The rules are likely to include the following but do check with your local centre to be shown a copy of their rules:
- Please do not bring any other person with you unless previously agreed at the information meeting.
- Any person displaying violence, bad language, intimidation or aggression inside or directly outside of the contact centre will automatically lose their place at the centre.
- Aggressive and intimidating conduct towards staff will not be tolerated and may lead to place being withdrawn.
- Any person arriving at the centre under the influence of drugs or alcohol will be asked to leave immediately and will lose their place.
- Smoking is not permitted inside the grounds of the centre.
- You must not access any other part of the building apart from the waiting room and the toilet if you are the person escorting the children.
- If you do not attend 2 contact sessions without informing the contact centre of a valid reason, your place will be allocated to another family.
- Children are the responsibility of parents at all times. Staff are at hand to help if needed.
- If contact has been delayed for whatever reason, the session may still go ahead only for the remaining time left.
- Visitors must arrive 10 -15 minutes prior to the escorting person and child arriving. The visitor must stay behind 10 -15 minutes after the session has ended.
- Please switch off mobile phone during contact sessions. Videoing is not allowed on our premises.
- Please DO NOT bring any balloons, flying toys, toy guns etc while at our centre.
- Please note staff (at supported contact centres) do not write reports or comment on contact sessions unless we feel there is a safeguarding issue. Only dates and times of attendance will be given out upon request.
- Please do not ask your children to pass gifts or belongings, money or messages (either verbally or written) to your ex-partner.
- Supported contact is a temporary measure used to re-establish trusting relationships. You are expected to move on and make your own contact arrangements in the near future.
