Services
Handover Service
This service allows children to visit with a non-resident parent or other family member without witnessing or being at risk of witnessing parental conflict. At an agreed time and location a parent or family member will leave the child with a Building Bridges supervisor for the other parent to collect. A ‘handover’ conducted like this eliminates the need for parties in high conflict to have contact and keeps the visit child focused.
Supervised Contact Service
A supervised contact should be offered when it has been determined that a child has suffered or is at risk of suffering harm during contact, or when concerns have been raised. Referrals to Building Bridges can be self-referred and/or are accepted from the Court, the Department of Communities, lawyers, family mediators, mental health professionals or other agencies.
The supervisor, an impartial person provided by Building Bridges, will monitor the visit, staying within hearing and or visual distance at all times. Wherever possible the same supervisor will attend each visit to provide consistent care and management for the child. Our supervisors will intervene when necessary and can work professionally in a planned way with vulnerable children.
Child Focus Services
Building Bridges supports families to develop and sustain positive relationships between a child and their non-residential family while maintaining the child’s safety. Building Bridges services assist families to ensure the child is able to visit with non-residential family without being exposed to adult conflict. Continued and consistent contact with non-residential family promotes and maintains positive relationships helpful to a child’s self-esteem. Children who have good self-esteem have been found to have better life outcomes. Furthermore, Children are able to grow socially and emotionally when they feel safe. A child’s social and emotional development is protected with supervised visits and can empower the child to manage family change and associated decision making and life challenges effectively.
The long term benefits for the children using the service include: forming positive relationships with non-residential family members; a reduction in the number of court cases which have been found to be harmful to children’s emotions and overall functioning; the opportunity to build confidence and self-esteem; a reduction in behavioural problems; better academic achievement; assistance for children negotiating difficult family relationships.
Supervision Reports
Supervision reports will document relevant discussion, observations and outcomes witnessed by the supervisor during the visit or handover. Reports can be tailored to family need and this will be discussed during intake and assessment.
Reports can be issued on request by either party. Parties can request a combined report (to cover multiple visits) or individual visit reports.
Building Bridges will issue the report within seven working days once payment has been received. Reports will be sent to both parties.