Supported or Supervised Contact…
‘Supported contact’ and ‘supervised contact’ are both used to enable parents and children to spend time together. Family Law Solicitor, Lauren Sheffield, discusses the differences in her latest blog…
What is the difference?
Supported Contact
Supported contact typically occurs in a neutral setting such as a contact centre where there are staff present but the staff are very often volunteers and are not childcare trained professionals. There is often a fee payable for supported contact to take place in a contact centre. The level of supervision is less intensive as the staff do not closely monitor the interaction between the parents and child and would only provide assistance if needed. Generally, the staff at the contact centre would not get involved with the contact. It may be recommended in private law proceedings whereby a child has not seen their parent for a period of time.
The purpose of this contact is to help the child build or maintain a relationship with their parent in a safe and comfortable environment. Supported contact is considered appropriate in circumstances where there are no significant safety concerns but where some level of oversight is deemed beneficial for the child’s comfort and well-being.
Supervised Contact
Supervised contact is recommended where there is a high risk associated with the contact. The contact would take place in a neutral setting such as a contact centre but can also happen in other locations such as a family home, or in the community, but with strict guidelines or a written agreement in place.
Supervised contact is often recommended by social services where there are concerns about a child’s safety due to issues around abuse, neglect or substance misuse by parents. Sometimes, parents may be required to pay for the cost of supervised contact, and the cost will depend on the contact centre.
There is a high level of supervision to observe the contact closely to ensure the child is safe during the contact. The contact would be supervised by a trained professional or someone who is considered suitable by social services as the supervisor must be prepared to intervene if there are any issues during the contact or if the child’s safety is at risk.
Conclusion
In summary, if a child is subject to care proceedings due to the concerns around their parent’s ability to provide safe care, it is likely that the Local Authority will recommend supervised contact in the first instance, as means the local authority can closely monitor the contact to ensure the child’s safety.
Unlike supported contact which may be used where there is low risk or no safeguarding concerns.
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July 2024