Family Time
Avenue has recently changed the name of our Child Contact services to Family Time as part of our commitment to the Promise.
Family Time better reflects the language that children use to describe the time that they spend with the important people in their lives. #KeepingThePromise
Avenue provides a range of services to help children spend quality time with the important people in their lives. Our Family Time centres are welcoming places where separated children, parents and families can enjoy time together. They are safe, child-friendly spaces with a range of toys, play and craft materials on offer, and trained workers on hand to ensure that children can relax and have fun.
Supported Time and Supervised Time takes place within one of our Family Time centres. Supported Time takes place without direct observation, but with the support of Family Time workers. Supervised Time takes place with a Family Time worker present who will observe and supervise the sessions. Reports for Supervised or Supported Time are provided on request.
Handover allows children to spend time outwith the centre with people important to them, providing a safe place for the child to arrive and return to, where parents do not need to interact.
Message Box provides indirect contact in the form of text, video and photographs and is facilitated through a Family Support Worker.
Everyone that uses Avenue’s Family Time services has a designated Family Support Worker who is the point-of-contact for the family. The Family Support Worker is there to answer any queries and to provide support that enables happy, healthy and safe Family Time to take place.
Sessions
The type and frequency of Family Time is based on the individual circumstances of everyone involved, and is usually agreed between the parents or determined by the court or solicitors. Avenue works with the child before sessions to ensure that the sessions take place at a pace the child is comfortable with. The plan is therefore always responding to the best interests of the child and is also influenced by Avenue’s ability to deliver the service safely.
Sessions that take place in the centre usually last 1 or 2 hours, while handover can be longer. Family Time might take place weekly, fortnightly or monthly.
At the beginning of all Family Time service provision, parents are asked to attend individual intake sessions with a Family Support Worker during which Avenue can answer any queries the parents may have and clarify expectations.
The child will also visit the Family Time centre at least once before sessions take place.
Avenue has three Family Time centres, located in Elgin, Peterhead and Aberdeen.
Cost
You may be able to get Legal Aid to help you to pay for Family Time. You should speak to your solicitor or to Citizens Advice in the first instance about this.
Avenue is a charity and we work hard to keep our fees as low as we can so that anyone who needs our support can access our services. Please get in touch if you are not able to access Legal Aid, the child lives in Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire or Moray, and you are on benefits or a low income. We will be happy to have a confidential conversation with you regarding an individualised payment plan. In some cases, we may be able to offer free or reduced cost services thanks to the support of a range of funders including: Aberdeenshire Council, Moray Council and the Scottish Government.
Supported Time
Set-up for Supported Time and the associated Family Time intake meetings costs £150.
A Supported Time Session costs £50 per hour.
Supervised Time
Set-up for Supervised Time and the associated Family Time intake meetings costs £150.
A Supervised Time session costs £100 per hour (up to a maximum of 2 hours).
Handover
Set-up for Handover and the associated intake meetings costs £150.
Each Handover session costs £20.
Message Box
Set-up for Message Box and the associated intake meetings is £150.
The monthly fee for Message Box is £20, which includes a maximum of 2 messages per week from both parents and child(ren).
Reports on Family Time (all types)
A Family Time Report covering up to 6 sessions, or 6 weeks of Message Box, costs £150.
Additional sessions, or weeks, included in the report cost £25 each
If you would like more information, or would like to refer yourself or someone you know to Family Time, please call our Service Administration team on 01224 587571, or email us.
Our online referral forms can be completed here
Self Referral
Professional Referral
