What do Special Guardians need to know about managing contact?
During the Special Guardianship Assessment, it is essential that contact, also referred to as family time, is explored with particular care and consideration. If not thoughtfully considered, contact arrangements can lead to significant conflict and place substantial strain on both the special guardians and their wider family network.
At Slough Children First, our contact service provides tailored advice and guidance on establishing and managing contact arrangements outside a supervised setting. Our support extends to both special guardians and parents, with individual sessions offered to each party. This inclusive approach ensures that all involved are supported in facilitating safe, positive, and meaningful family time moving forward.
Why can contact be difficult for Special Guardians?
Special Guardians may face a range of challenges regarding contact arrangements.
Being asked to supervise contact between a child and a family member or close friend can place the guardian in a particularly difficult and emotionally complex position. This dynamic can often feel uncomfortable and may lead to tensions. However, by maintaining clear boundaries and approaching the situation with confidence and a focus on the best interests of the child or young person, contact can be managed constructively and has the potential to develop positively over time.
How much contact should there be?
During the care planning process for a child’s permanency, the level of contact that can be realistically maintained will be carefully considered.
Additional key factors relating to the management of contact with extended family members, whether paternal or maternal, will depend significantly on the nature and location of the child’s placement. It is vital that all contact arrangements are both appropriate and achievable in practice.
It is essential that children and young people are provided with the opportunity to maintain meaningful relationships with their birth family, where it is safe and appropriate to do so. These connections can play a crucial role in supporting the child’s identity, emotional well-being, and sense of continuity.
