SERVICE DETAILS
We take a children's rights-based approach to ensure children can spend time with parents or close family members who live apart.
We design our child contact centres to be fun, supportive so they provide a welcoming space for positive relationships to grow.
We work with both parents to make arrangements that are safe and suitable for their family.
Assisted contact provides a venue for calm handover between parents.
Supported contact provides space for play - and develop playing together - for parent and children.
Supervised contact is arranged when parents and children need more support to be together.
Our Family Connection Centres in Edinburgh is The Playrooms, 37 George Street; EH2.
Who is connecting families for?
It can be a struggle for families who are living apart for many different reasons. Family connection services are aimed at helping children to stay in touch with family members they don't live with.
Our Family Connections programme is based on the needs of the child. Sometimes, courts or other agencies decide that children should see the family member(s) they don't live with and our role is to help this happen, safely and in ways that reduces the child's anxiety or apprehensions so they can enjoy seeing the parent they don't live with.
Family Journeys' Family Connections can also be used by families more informally. Children and young people might ask to use the service too. Sometimes it's also useful for other services families are liaising with to use this connection point by voluntary agreement. This can be helpful when stress or tension makes visits difficult.
Whoever has decided that Family Connections is a beneficial way forward, the child's rights to express their views will be respected. Children have a right to see parents they don't live with, and the right to play.
How do family connection sessions work?
We aim to provide different levels of support to suit families in different situations.
Sessions are held at different venues and we try to ensure each venue has toys suitable for the age, stage and interests of every child - there is baby equipment available too.
Sessions are about adults creating loving attachments with their children, so the venues are relaxed, comfortable and private. Some families may prefer to attend sessions with groups of families so that children can play with others as well as their families or enjoy activities we provide.
At times, we may support family connections in other places children enjoy, such as parks or cinemas etc depending on staff and funding.
We staff all our venues and we have experienced workers who can help parents play and care for their child, especially since children grow and change so fast.
As families get used to their new situations, they often find they no longer need family connection sessions.
Other families need more intensive support to help families feel safe and confident.
Different levels of service:
A meeting place: some parents want to drop their child at a place where the other family member can meet the child. They will leave before the other parent collects them. The parent and child may stay at the venue or go somewhere else, before returning at an agreed time. Whether they stay at our venue or go elsewhere is agreed with both parents in advance -and of course the child's views are listened to.
A supported connection plan: some parents may feel safer and more confident if the child is collected by another service or one of our volunteers, and brought to our venue to play with their other parent. Our staff remain on hand to help if needed.
A safe connection plan: some parents have been advised by the court or social worker that their contact with children should take place with the help of this service. We will stay in the child's presence throughout the session. We can help the parent and the child to enjoy the play opportunities and support their relationship, but we are not intrusive. If we are asked to report to the court or social workers, we will do this.
We talk with all parents about the ground rules of family connection sessions, and with children when possible. These sessions should be special for the child, so it's important that everyone has the same expectations.
Is there a charge for Family Journeys services?
We want to ensure support for families going through the stress and trauma of separation and living apart is accessible and affordable.
If a solicitor is involved with your family, we may discuss how Legal Aid can be charged for the services you need and we can help you with this.
Legal Aid can also support you avoid going to court. If using Family Journey services is helping you avoid this route, we may discuss it with you.
Sessions decided by a court or social worker will be charged back to the court/social worker. This can include staff time for set up and for reporting if required.
Fees...
Please see https://www.familyjourneys.scot/family-connections-services.
