I am working with a family, providing supervised contact for the father to see his two children. This has been decided via a court order. Although the children are happy with the arrangement, the mother becomes very angry and emotional when staff arrive to take the children to the contact centre. What can I do?
Providing contact for estranged families is a very sensitive and complex issue. Emotions run high for everyone concerned, including the children. However, if a court order has been granted, then the supervised contact must take place until a review is conducted.
Are you able to spend some time with the mother, in order for her to trust you and to build a relationship with her? Many parents in this situation are very anxious about the impact that seeing their father will have on their children. Has she been able to visit the contact centre to see where her children will meet their father? Seeing a well-resourced, safe environment may allay her fears.
It is vital that anyone providing contact retains a professionally neutral stance when dealing with both parents, as the aim of the contact is to work in the best interests of the child.
Answered by Jeanie Lynch, who works for Barnardo’s and has 25 years’ experience of working with vulnerable children and families
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