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Contents

1. Guiding Principles
2. Peterborough's Policy Statement about Contact
3. Planning Contact
4. Contact Agreements
5. The Nature of Contact

1. Guiding Principles

1.1	Evidence from research and practice concludes that for most children who are separated from their parents, siblings, or other close relatives, it is in their best interests to have some contact with their family.
1.2	There is a legal presumption (under Section 34 Children Act 1989) of reasonable contact between children in care and their families.
1.3	The local authority has a duty to promote contact unless it is not consistent with, or is detrimental to the child's welfare.
1.4	This continues to be the case throughout a child's time in care other than for the exceptional cases where the local authority is granted Authority to Place for Adoption.  At this point the legal position changes and there is no presumption either for or against contact and an assessment of the child's continuing need for contact must be undertaken - see Adoption Planning for Children Procedure.
1.5	Even though there is a duty to promote contact, children have the right to be protected from harmful contact. For children subject to an Interim Care Order or a full Care Order, the local authority can only suspend contact for a limited period (up to a maximum of 7 days) in an emergency. After that period of time, contact can only be prevented or curtailed by a court order (Section 34(4), Children Act 1989).
1.6	Contact is an integral part of care planning and must be considered at every stage of the process.
1.7	Contact should be compatible with the child's needs taking into account their age, ethnicity, culture, religion and disability.
1.8	Children, young people and their family should be involved in all decisions relating to contact and their wishes and feelings taken into account.
1.9	When a child is adopted, the Adoption Support Plan should adhere to the principle that links with the family of origin should not be completely severed and that the child's life-long need to know and understand their heritage is important.
1.10	Contact includes every method of maintaining links with members of the birth family and other significant people for a child. It includes visits, overnight stays, telephone calls, letters, exchanges of information, photographs and indirect links through others.

2. Peterborough's Policy Statement about Contact

2.1	Peterborough City Council will, in accordance with the requirements of the Children Act 1989 and the Adoption and Children Act 2002, promote contact between children in care, their families of origin and others who have played an important part in their lives.
2.2	Peterborough City Council will ensure all children in its care have a contact plan enabling them to have reasonable contact with family and other significant people in accordance with their assessed needs and best interests. Particular attention will be given to arrangements whereby a child may lose contact with specific aspects of their cultural heritage.
2.3	Peterborough City Council will ensure that the contact plan is an integral part of the care planning process for children in care. The Care Plan will indicate the purpose of contact which will inform the specific arrangements about the nature and frequency of contact.
2.4	Peterborough City Council will ensure that the contact plan and arrangements are compiled in consultation with the child, his/her parents and significant other family and friends.
2.5	Peterborough City Council will ensure that where it is necessary to safeguard or promote a child's welfare, contact will be supported or supervised. The decision and arrangements will be informed by the Core Assessment and analysis of risk to the child - see Contact with Parents and Other Relatives Procedure.
2.6	Peterborough City Council will ensure that where contact visits are to be observed and recorded as part of an assessment, or where they are used therapeutically to directly influence parenting or family functioning, the adults (and the children, where appropriate) will be informed and this activity will be reflected in the contact plan.
2.7	Peterborough City council will ensure that contact plans and arrangements will be discussed and monitored at each statutory Child Care Review. Particular attention will be given to the contact plan whenever the Care Plan is significantly changed or there is a sudden change of circumstances.
2.8	Peterborough City Council will ensure that contact will only be refused on a short term basis upon the authorisation of a Service Manager who is satisfied that it is necessary to do so to safeguard or promote the child's welfare. The child will be given an explanation appropriate to their age and understanding.
2.9	Peterborough City Council will only make a legal application to refuse contact in the longer term upon the authorisation of a Service Manager who is satisfied it is necessary to do so to safeguard or promote the child's welfare and is in accordance with the Care Plan for the child. The child will be given an explanation appropriate to their age and understanding.
2.10	Peterborough City Council will make every effort to maintain some links for a child with his/her family of origin when contact visits are not appropriate. This may include exchange of letters or information through a third party. As a minimum standard, letterbox exchange with birth parents will be available for all children placed for adoption - see Adoption Support Services Procedure.
2.11	Peterborough City Council will ensure that when parents or family members need help or access to resources in order to maintain contact with their child or children, it will assess how and what level of assistance can be provided.
2.12	Peterborough City Council will ensure that a child's contact plan is always recorded, is up to date and provided in writing to all involved unless there is a verifiable reason not to do so.

3. Planning Contact

3.1	It is important to distinguish between the planning of contact which relates to the overall care planning decisions; and the management of contact which relates to the practical logistics and difficulties of each episode of contact.
3.2	The planning of contact relates to the care planning for a child in care and there should be assessment and analysis of: Why is contact important for this child and family? What is the purpose of contact? Who should have contact with whom? Is there a need to support or supervise the contact?
3.3	The contact plan should be recorded in: The child’s Placement Plan/Placement Information Record. The Care Plan The review of arrangements Depending on the circumstances, it may also be recorded in: Core Assessment report Court reports Adoption or permanence reports.
3.4	The management of contact relates to the practical arrangements, implementation and monitoring of each episode of contact and will include: Making sure the detailed arrangements have been sorted out and are compatible with the purpose of contact. Making sure contingency plans are in place to cover likely eventualities, and that emergency procedures are known for unforeseen events. Setting up a system to record, and monitor each episode of contact and who will receive the information. Agreeing how regularly the arrangement will be reviewed in addition to statutory Child Care Reviews and how and to whom significant information will be given in the event of a concern or difficulty arising. Establishing the criteria for success - what will be regarded as satisfactory contact. Ensuring that in addition to the contact plan there is a written agreement of the arrangements and that all parties have a copy and accept their role and responsibility.

4. Contact Agreements

4.1

It is not always appropriate for the detailed arrangements for contact to be included in a report outlining the contact plan. Therefore it is sensible to draw up an agreement in consultation with the child and family to be signed.

4.2

Contact agreements should include: The type of contact - direct or indirect. The nature of contact - supported, supervised, assessed, intervention Who will be involved Frequency and timing whether direct or indirect. Venue and transport Arrangements for supervision and recording sessions. Any restraints, limits or expectations. Tasks of who will do what before, during, after contact whether direct or indirect. The criteria for success. Contingency plans - anticipating problems or difficulties. Support arrangements for child and family members. Arrangements for monitoring each episode. Arrangements for monitoring the contact plan.

5. The Nature of Contact

5.1	Supported contact is where a neutral or supportive environment is provided to enable parents/family and children to meet in as natural a setting as possible. It should only be as restrictive as is necessary to ensure the child's well being.
5.2	Where there are concerns that a child may be at risk during the contact session it will be supervised. This may take the form of either discreet observation or more active participation of the supervisor and could involve the use of mirrored rooms or video equipment. The requirement for observation and recording and who will get copies of the record should be agreed and written into the plan along with expectations of parental behaviour.
5.3	Assessed contact is where the contact session is observed and recorded within a structured assessment format. The specific behaviours or activities and assessment criteria should be agreed with the child as appropriate and the parents/family members. The requirement for assessed contact should be agreed and written into the contact plan.
5.4	Contact as a direct intervention is where the contact sessions are used to engage with family members to directly influence family functioning, communication or parenting behaviour. It could be to promote positive parenting, to influence a child's behaviour or parents' management of the behaviour or to develop particular skills or areas of the child's development. Where the intervention is also being assessed the two functions must remain distinct and may involve the use of more than one supervisor. The requirement for contact to be used for intervention should be agreed and written into the contact plan.
5.5	Planning and managing contact involves detailed process and skilled practice. See Contact with Parents and Siblings Procedure.

End