Councils should look to trusted family members of children in care to take up the role of closed contact centres in order to keep child contact arrangements alive, updated guidance by the government has confirmed.
The “Coronavirus: Separated Families and Contact with Children in Care FAQs (UK)“, which was updated last night, re-iterates that the spirit of child contact orders for both private and public family law cases must be upheld.
The guidance says, “Centres are working creatively with families to see if there are other people that might be able to take up the role of the contact centre. This works well where there are family members or other trusted people that can step in, to support.”
Centres which are only partially closed can continue to arrange handovers for parents who need the support of a contact centre.
The revised document also provides a link to another briefing paper which offers advice on how to get help with varying a court order during the Coronavirus outbreak.
Researching Reform 
Contact centres should above all allow FREE SPEECH,FREE SPEECH ,FREE SPEECH ,yes FREE SPEECH !!
At present parents have to sign a promise not to discuss with their children “the case”,the possibility of coming home,any abuse suffered in care ,any criticism of social workers or guardians,and to use only the English Language even if neither children nor parents are native speakers ! Children old enough should have mobile phones so they can text family and friends.
ALL this talk of working “creatively with parents” without free speech is rubbish !
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That’s all true.
But my children have phones but they are not allowed to ring my eldest daughter is 14 and my eldest son is 13 my youngest I understand because she is nearly 8.
But the carer is not allowing it and it’s there auntie.
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No matter WHAT the circumstance children should never never be forcibly gagged and should ALWAYS be allowed free speech (providing maybe that it is not at screaming pitch and/or outrageously obscene!).
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Ditto
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My children got taken by social services through lies and they are with a family member are we allowed to still see them.
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Hi, thank you for your comment and I’m sorry to hear about your experience. This will depend on the circumstances of your own case. If you’d like some additional support, you’re welcome to get in touch at Sobk13 at gmail dot com. We don’t charge for assistance. Natasha (Founder, Researching Reform).
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