Supported family time will not be suitable for any situation involving risk to children or adults; supported contact centres do not supervise family time or write reports but offer facilities where a family needs this for a defined period of time. They should only be used where safe and beneficial family time for the child can clearly take place.
Generally, the main differences between supported family time and supervised family time are as follows:
| Supported family time | Supervised family time | |
| Risk levels* | Where the risk is low – perhaps where communication has broken down following divorce or separation. | Where the risk is high – perhaps following domestic abuse. |
| Description of service | Typically in a contact centre possibly run by volunteers where other families might also be present. The adult having contact is responsible for the child they are spending time with. | Takes place on a one-to-one basis in a contact centre where the staff are within sight and sound of the child at all times. Also in community locations once the contact service is satisfied this is safe. |
| Type of NACCC accreditation | NACCC’s standard accreditation for supported family time. | NACCC’s enhanced accreditation for supervised family time. |
| Reports | Only dates and times of attendances are recorded. Notes are not made during the session. Safeguarding concerns will be reported to the local authority. | Notes are often made during the session which are used to compile a report following the family time. |
| Length of service | Short term – can range from a few sessions to around six months. In exceptional circumstances this may be up to 12 months. | Although can be short-term, in some circumstances can be delivered over long periods of time depending on the risk. |
| Typical progression | Although can be a short-term, in some circumstances can be delivered over long periods of time depending on the risk. | Contact often progresses to handover sessions prior to families moving on from the service. |
*See also ‘How can I decide which level of family time is appropriate for the family I’m working with?’