Contact Centres

[Fairy2015]

Hi,
Does anyone have experience with contact centre, in which they use for contact of the non-resident parent? x

[cestlavielife]

i used one for few months, supervised contact. it was fine. set up like local library with books, toys etc. you could wait in separate room and avoid contact with the other parent. go visit the proposed centre.

[Fairy2015]

Thanks for your response, how quickly did you move onto unsupervised contact, or child goes off alone with other parent?

[cestlavielife]

the dc did some supervised visits out then after few months they began unsupervised...however exp then had another severe MH crisis and contact stopped completely. (ie incident happened, I told SW and police/gp, they recommended stopping contact - i felt I had enough evidence to tell court if needs be that i had good reason. )
eventually supervised was reinstated with a family friend.
it's been on off up down...

[Lonecatwithkitten]

In my area there is a minimum three month wait for contact centres so supervised contact was family member/friend. This went on for 5 months, then unsupervised contact in a neutral public place for 3months, before unsupervised in his home.

[megletthesecond]

We didn't really use ours. We turned up twice and XP refused to attend both times. Different entrances for each parent.

The people running it seemed nice though.

[Bellemere]

Have experience of both supported and supervised. Supported was free, like a little playgroup. Supervised was dad in a room with DC and woman writing a report, literally noting everything that was said and done.

Contact centres, whether supervised or supported, are intended to be a short term solution - I wouldn't expect more than 6-8 weeks really. Then unsupervised for a short amount of time building up to eventual EOW.

[starlight2007]

I used a contact centre...We went for months and no real progress..Ex remained unstable. He refused to go and in the end as DS was asking. I agreed to contact in a soft play centre so he could be with him in a public place...His mum supervised contact which was a complete disaster really.

[Fairy2015]

How did you progress on from there starlight2007?

[starry0ne]

well it didn't really ..He took me to mediation was unreasonable....Did nothing for 6 months then took me to court.. I spoke to CAFCASS prior to court who agreed no contact without psychiatric assessment... Then he withdrew from court and I have never heard from him again.. that was 5 years ago..