Special People Supervised Contact Service

What is Supervised Contact Support?

Special People provides professionally managed family contact for children who need support or supervision when spending time with a parent, sibling, grandparent or another significant family member.

The purpose of the service is to help contact take place safely, positively and in the best interests of the child. Each arrangement is based on the child’s needs, the identified risks and the requirements of the court order, local authority care plan or private agreement under which contact is taking place.

Sessions are facilitated by trained support workers who observe interactions, support communication, respond to concerns and maintain clear, factual records.

We can provide supervised contact and supported contact. The appropriate level of involvement is agreed following a referral and assessment.

Who is the service for?

The service may be suitable for:

• Children in care who are maintaining contact with birth parents or relatives

• Children who are subject to child protection or care proceedings

• Children living with foster carers or kinship carers

• Children having contact with a non-resident parent

• Siblings who do not currently live together

• Families involved in private family-law proceedings

• Families rebuilding relationships following a period of separation

• Children who need additional support because of disability, communication needs, autism or emotional distress

• Families whose contact arrangements require independent observation and recording

We work with children of different ages and adapt the approach to their developmental stage, communication style, needs and individual circumstances.

Supervised contact

During supervised contact, the worker maintains continuous oversight of the session and remains close enough to observe and hear the interactions taking place.

The worker’s responsibilities may include:

• Supporting the child’s safe arrival and departure

• Checking that the agreed contact arrangements are followed

• Observing interactions between the child and family members

• Supporting appropriate communication and engagement

• Helping the child manage anxiety or emotional distress

• Intervening where behaviour becomes unsafe or inappropriate

• Following agreed rules relating to food, gifts, photographs or physical contact

• Responding to safeguarding concerns

• Recording factual observations from the session

• Providing a clear handover after contact

The worker does not make decisions about whether contact should continue outside the agreed safeguarding and emergency procedures. Any proposed change to the contact arrangement must be agreed by the person or organisation responsible for the plan.

Supported contact

Supported contact may be appropriate where the identified risks are lower and continuous close observation is not required.

The worker provides a less intrusive presence while remaining available to:

• Help the child and family settle into the session

• Encourage positive and child-focused interaction

• Support communication where necessary

• Assist with practical arrangements

• Help manage transitions and handovers

• Respond if concerns arise

• Record agreed information about the session

The required level of support is determined by the referral information and assessment. It may be reviewed if risks or circumstances change.

Where contact can take place

Contact arrangements may take place in:

• An agreed contact centre

• A child-friendly community venue

• A park, leisure facility, café or other agreed public place

• Another suitable setting approved as part of the contact plan

The location is selected according to the child’s needs, the purpose of contact and the identified risks.

Community contact is arranged only where it has been assessed as safe and appropriate. Higher-risk or newly established contact may require a more controlled environment.

Planning the contact arrangement

Before contact begins, we review the referral and speak with the referring professional or family to clarify:

• The legal or care-planning basis for contact

• Who is permitted to attend

• The agreed frequency and duration

• The required level of supervision

• Any known safeguarding concerns

• The child’s needs, routines and communication preferences

• Any disability, health or behavioural support requirements

• Rules concerning gifts, food, photographs, phones or social media

• Arrival, departure and handover arrangements

• Actions to take if a participant is late or does not attend

• Circumstances in which a session should be paused or ended

• Reporting and information-sharing requirements

Contact will begin only when sufficient information has been provided for the service to plan and manage the session safely.

Supporting children during contact

The child’s welfare remains central throughout the session.

Depending on the child’s age and needs, the worker may:

• Explain what will happen in an accessible way

• Help the child settle into the environment

• Support the child to communicate their wishes or discomfort

• Provide reassurance during transitions

• Encourage suitable play and activities

• Monitor signs of distress, anxiety or withdrawal

• Allow appropriate breaks where required

• Support communication for children with additional needs

• Record and report any significant change in presentation

Children are not pressured to show affection or participate in an activity that causes them distress. Any concerns are managed in accordance with the agreed contact plan and safeguarding procedures.

Family handovers and transitions

Arrivals and departures can be difficult for children and family members. Where required, workers can support separate or staggered handovers to reduce conflict and help the child move calmly between carers.

This may include:

• Meeting the child and carer separately

• Preventing direct contact between adults where this is required

• Supporting the child before the session begins

• Helping the child prepare for the session to end

• Returning the child safely to the agreed carer

• Passing on appropriate practical information

• Recording any concerns arising during the handover

The exact arrangements are agreed before the first session.

Session records and reports

A factual record can be completed following each contact session.

Depending on the commissioned service, reports may include:

• The date, time, location and people present

• Arrival and departure information

• A factual account of activities and interactions

• The child’s presentation and responses

• Examples of communication between participants

• Support or intervention provided by the worker

• Any incidents, concerns or safeguarding matters

• Whether the agreed contact conditions were followed

• The outcome of the session

Reports are written objectively and avoid unsupported opinions or assumptions.

Individual session reports or cumulative reports covering several sessions may be available, depending on the referral agreement. The required format, frequency, recipient and timescale should be confirmed before contact begins.

Unless specifically commissioned and completed by an appropriately qualified professional, these reports are observational records and not parenting assessments, expert-witness reports or recommendations about future contact.

Safeguarding during contact

All sessions are delivered within agreed safeguarding and risk-management arrangements.

Where a worker identifies an immediate risk to the child or another person, they may pause or end the session and follow the agreed escalation procedure.

This may include:

• Removing the child from an unsafe situation

• Contacting the referring professional or duty team

• Informing the agreed carer

• Contacting emergency services where necessary

• Recording the incident

• Making a safeguarding referral in accordance with legal and organisational responsibilities

Any significant concern is shared only with the appropriate individuals and organisations in accordance with safeguarding and information-sharing requirements.

Referrals

We welcome referrals and enquiries from:

• Local authorities and children’s social care teams

• Social workers and Independent Reviewing Officers

• Solicitors and legal representatives

• CAFCASS officers

• Foster-care and kinship-care services

• Parents and family members arranging contact privately

• Other professionals involved in the child’s care

Unlike health and homecare services, supervised contact would not normally be referred through NHS Continuing Healthcare, hospital discharge arrangements or Personal Health Budgets.

Following a referral, we review the available information, assess whether we can manage the identified risks and confirm the proposed arrangements. Short-notice requests may be considered subject to sufficient information, suitable staffing and availability.