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Parenting should not end when relationships do. We see things through the eyes of the child.
The Cheltenham Child Contact Centre is a safe, neutral place where a child can enjoy uninterrupted contact with the parent seeking contact.
What We Do
The Cheltenham Child Contact Centre is a safe, neutral place where children can spend time with a parent.
The Centre is open every other Saturday from 1-3 pm for supported contact. Parents usually attend 10-12 sessions, which take about 4 to 5 months. Parents do not have to meet each other.
The Centre helps with handovers between parents, charging £10 per family per day for this service.
If parents don’t want to meet, a staff member will take the child from one parent to the other. The Centre offers a safe space and helps parents arrange contact outside the Centre. Trained staff and volunteers, who are DBS checked, run the Centre. They stay neutral and do not get involved in disputes.
During supported contact, the Centre only keeps records of the dates and times families attend. If there is a safeguarding concern, it is reported to the relevant authorities.
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Learn More
We currently have an approx. 6-week waiting list for supervised contact on Saturdays.
To make a referral please complete the form below. Completion of these forms and pre-visits must be completed by both parents before contact can begin. A risk assessment will be carried out once the referral forms have been received and you will be contacted to arrange pre-visits.
Contact Supervisors will be in the room with you, observing these sessions. These will be recorded on either a laptop or handwritten.
Unless ordered by the court, there will be a review conducted after 4 sessions to assess if supervised contact is still needed, the contact centre may recommend moving onto supported contact.
Please note, families cannot pay to have more supervised contact than needed.
This takes place during Supported Contact hours (Saturday 1.00-3.00).
This is a service available for families needing extra support to make the transition between Supervised and Supported Contact.
A worker will remain with the family throughout the supported contact session and be on hand to support.
The worker will also be extra vigilant to keep an eye and ear open to any areas of risk identified through the supervised contact process.
The number of sessions offered will be dependent on each individual circumstance and will be reviewed every 4 sessions. We anticipate most families will then move into supported contact, however, this gives us the option to put a contact back into Supervised Contact should the staff feel this is necessary.
Sometimes a signed agreement by both parents addressing risks may be put in place for this to occur.
The Centre has three large rooms with a variety of games, toys, books and craft activities for children of all ages.
Drinks are available but the centre does not provide food.
Supervised contact takes place in one room but during supported contact, the whole building is available to be used.
There is ample car parking at the Centre and it is also on a bus route.
Supported Contact: Charged at £10.00 per family, per hour.
Supervised Contact: £55 for the first hour and £45 for any subsequent hours taken on the same day. This needs paying before the contact session can take place. This includes a report written. If no report is needed, the costs remain the same.
Monitored Contact: £35 per hour.
Escorted Contact with report: Charged at the same rate as Supervised contact.
Escorted Contact, no report: £35 per hour.
Handovers: £10.00 per family per day. Card and cash payments are accepted.
- Parents need to pre-visit the centre before any contact takes place.
- Parents do not need to meet. We ask the parent coming for contact to be at the Centre 15 minutes before the beginning of the session. The parent bringing the child needs to arrive promptly for the start of the session. On handovers we can also work to ensure parents do not meet.
- The safety and well-being of each child using the Centre is the responsibility of the parent. A parent must always be in attendance. The parent bringing the child stays at the Centre until the other parent arrives, although parents do not need to meet.
- A child can only be taken out of the Centre if that has been stated on the referral form and/or agreed by both parents and Centre staff.
- Contact is primarily for the child and the parent having contact. This can be complicated by other persons being present.
- Other relatives can only take part in the contact if named on the referral forms and agreed by both parents. We very rarely allow other relatives during supervised contact. Please discuss this with staff at pre visit.
- Where parents choose to meet, it is vital that there are no arguments in front of the children.
- No-one under the influence of or carrying alcohol/drugs will be admitted. Abusive, aggressive or offensive behaviour or remarks will not be tolerated.
- Photos taken by the parent at the centre must not be included anyone other than their own child or children. Photos must be taken in discussion with the team leader and discussed at the pre visit and are unlikely to be allowed during supervised contact.
- Anyone displaying violence, bad language, intimidation or aggression inside or directly outside on 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 a place being withdrawn.
Thank you so much for all the support you have given to my son and me over the past few months I honestly don’t think we would have ever gotten to this arrangement now without all your support.
Cheltenham contact centre was fantastic, the team are absolutely incredible and so supportive. They really put the children first with contact, I couldn’t fault anything about it.
Cheltenham Child Contact Centre Timetable
Supported Contact
- Frequency: Every other Saturday
- Time: 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Supervised Contact
- Frequency: Saturdays (Approx. 6-week waiting list)
- Pre-requisite: Pre-visits and risk assessment completed by both parents
Monitored Contact
- Frequency: During Supported Contact hours
- Time: Saturday 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
- Special Notes: Worker remains with the family throughout the session
Handovers
- Frequency: Every other Saturday (During Supported Contact hours)
- Time: 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
- Cost: £10 per family per day
Additional Notes
- Pre-visit Required: Yes, for both supported and supervised contact
- Report Required: Yes, for supervised contact
- Cancellation Policy: 24-hour notice required to avoid charges
Fees
- Supported Contact: £10 per family, per hour
- Supervised Contact: £55 for the first hour, £45 for subsequent hours
- Monitored Contact: £35 per hour
- Escorted Contact with report: Same rate as supervised contact
- Escorted Contact without report: £35 per hour
General Policies
- Parents must arrive 15 minutes before the session.
- Children can only be taken out if agreed upon.
- Other relatives can participate if agreed upon.
- No arguments, violence, or abusive behaviour is tolerated.
- Photos must be discussed with the team leader.
Where to find us
Cheltenham Child Contact Centre
Family Space
Oasis Centre
Cassin Drive
GL51 7SY
Phone: 01242 580812
Email: cheltenhamcontact@familyspace.org.uk
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Child Contact Centre Referral Form
Fill in the Child Contact Centre Referral Form Here
Download our Referral Form
If you are having trouble filling out the form on the page, please download this form.
When complete, please send to:
cheltenhamcontact@cheltenhamymca.com
Volunteer With Us
If you would like to volunteer with us, we would love to hear from you