Child contact centres perform a valuable function

Is there a future for child contact centres (CCCs)? The short and definitive answer is yes.

CCCs play a very important role in maintaining, and often restoring, contact between a child or children and a parent with whom they do not reside.

In the event of parents separating, it is often the
case that the children remain
living with the mother, either in
the family home or elsewhere,
while the father moves out
and secures alternative accommodation. If the mother has concerns about the father’s ability to adequately care for the children, or alleges past or present drug or alcohol use or domestic abuse, a CCC is often the only chance the children have of maintaining any form of direct relationship with their non-resident parent while the allegations are considered by the court and perhaps while the accused accesses help and further support.

Instruction manual

Children do not come with instruction manuals. When
a child is born, parents are expected to know how to care for them and how to parent them. For some, the ability to parent takes time to develop. It isn’t natural to some and it cannot be purchased from the supermarket alongside formula and nappies.

A mother may need to be convinced that the father has the necessary parenting skills. Such evidence can be provided by a father who is willing to
put the welfare of his child
first and agree to attend a CCC to spend time with their child.

CCCs, in addition to providing a safe and stable environment for children to enjoy face-to-face time with their non-resident parent, also try to encourage the parents to work together and, where possible, collaborate on the care given
to the children away from the centre.

CCCs are manned by volunteers and can be registered with the National Association of Child Contact Centres (NACCC). This organisation provides support, advice and training to member CCCs and accredits them to ensure they meet national standards.

Historically, it has been the parent’s legal representative who made the referral to the CCC. With the reduction in access to legal aid in family law, increasing numbers of parents are faced with the prospect of having to attend court without legal representation.

In a direct response to this, the NACCC has developed an online referral system which is accessible to all. On receipt of a parental referral, a qualified worker at the NACCC carries out a risk assessment. The safety and welfare of the children likely to use the CCC, and the volunteer staff, remains paramount.

Facilitating contact

Fortunately for those who need them, there are 403 CCCs throughout England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man. In 2013, 8,767 children spent quality one-on-one time with their non-resident parent at a CCC.

CCCs should not be used by a parent as a means of attempting to frustrate contact between a child and their non-resident parent. A space taken by a child who could happily be enjoying non-supported contact means a child who genuinely needs the safety and security that a CCC place provides could be missing out.

CCCs are not a long-term solution, but should be seen as a means of facilitating contact while issues which allegedly cause a problem with unsupported contact taking place are determined and/or dealt with appropriately. SJ

Suzanne Foster is a solicitor at K J Smith Solicitors