CHILD CONTACT CENTRES: (Supported)  Back to HOME page A child contact centre is a safe a neutral venue for children to meet and have quality time with a parent they no longer live with. It should be used when there are no reported risks identified, but perhaps there has been a period of time between parent/child last saw each other and support is needed to get contact underway again.  No reports or records of contact are kept and no information is given to courts, solicitors or Cafcass except attendance, with the exception of any information which leads staff to believe that a child, member of staff, or other adult is at risk.  In these cases the relevant authorities would be notified. Our centres are equipped with your children in mind – they have a range of toys, games and facilities to meet the wide range of families using our centre. A senior member of staff from Impact Family Services will always be on duty, along with child contact facilitators, who may be members of staff or trained volunteers.  Child Contact Centres are suitable for mothers, fathers, grandparents or siblings to meet.  They are normally open alternate Saturdays and sessions last 1 ½ hours. All our CCC’s are accredited by National Association of Child Contact Centres (NACCC), which is the Department for Education and the Ministry of Justice recognised regulatory body for setting National Standards for child contact. Referrals can be made by a parent, a solicitor or a Cafcass worker. What happens when we receive a referral? Once we have received a referral form we will ask you to attend an individual appointment where you can ask any questions, view our facilities and agree a date for the first contact session. One of our aims is to minimise conflict by ensuring the smoothest process of contact for children.  Everyone using the contact centre must sign our ground rules which are included in the assessment meeting.  We ask that you do not bring anyone with you unless it is in a supportive or medical capacity. We carry out regular reviews that help both parties involved plan a way forward and take steps to arranging their own contact and venue outside of the centre. When using our centres: Parents are responsible for children at all times Camcorders and recording equipment are not permitted Disruptive and unreasonable behaviour will be met with a request to leave the building  Venues: Impact Family Services currently run child contact centres in Sunderland, South Tyneside, Durham and Ashington. Berwick and Alnwick are available upon request.  Download Referral Form     Download Groundrules      Referrer’s Guidelines                  Contact Centre staff are based in Sunderland and the office is open Tuesday to Saturday. Administration/referrals and queries regarding all venues should be sent to this location. The contact details are: Email: mary.hind@impactfs.co.uk      TEL: 0191 510 3182   Impact Child Contact Centre - Sunderland In the Garden of St Luke's Church Maxwell Street Sunderland SR4 6SF MAP Impact Child Contact Centre - Durham Antioch House St Margarets Parish Church Hall 66 Crossgate Durham DH1 4PR MAP Impact Child Contact Centre - South Tyneside Marine Park Children's Centre Flagg Court South Shields NE33 2LS MAP Impact Child Contact Centre - Ashington Hirst Welfare Centre Alexandra Road Ashington NE63 9HF MAP