Person Centred Care at the Heart
  • Suite 6, St Albans Chambers, 16a St Alban Street, DT4 8PY

Family Support & Supervision Service

Specialist support helping children maintain safe, meaningful relationships with parents, family members and other significant people in their lives.
Family Support & Supervision Service

Family Support & Supervision Service

Supporting Safe & Meaningful Family Relationships

Our specialist family support, supervision and assessment services help children maintain and develop safe, meaningful relationships with parents, family members and other significant people in their lives. Family time can be emotionally complex, particularly where there has been trauma, separation, safeguarding concerns or court involvement, so our approach is grounded in empathy, professionalism and a clear understanding of attachment.

We work in partnership with local authorities, courts, social workers and wider professionals to provide reliable, high-quality supervision that prioritises the safety and wellbeing of the child whilst supporting positive family relationships wherever possible.

Our experienced staff can supervise contact within family homes, hospitals, community settings and other agreed venues. We recognise that every family situation is different, and therefore tailor our approach to the specific requirements of the child's care plan, court directions, risk assessments and local authority expectations.

family-support-supervision-new-770x480

Professional Observation & Reporting

Our practitioners understand the importance of objective and evidence-based recording. Following each session, comprehensive reports are produced detailing observations, interactions, strengths, areas of concern, and any significant events. Reports are shared promptly with the allocated social worker and can be used to inform care planning, reviews, assessments and court proceedings where required.

Throughout our work, we focus less on behaviour in isolation and more on the experiences, emotions and relationships that sit behind it. This enables us to capture a balanced picture of family interactions, recognise progress, and identify areas where additional support may be beneficial.

Our service aims to:

Promote positive and safe family relationships.
Support children to maintain important connections.
Provide objective, professional observations.
Reduce anxiety and conflict during family time.
Help families build confidence and positive interactions.
Assist local authorities and courts through detailed and evidence-based reporting.
Support informed decision-making regarding a child's future care and relationships.

Types of Supervision

Depending on the objectives of the placement or assessment, we can provide:
01. Observation-Only Supervision
Observation-only supervision, where staff remain present to observe, record and monitor interactions, intervening only where there is an immediate risk to the safety or wellbeing of the child or another individual.
02. Supported Supervision
Supported supervision, where staff provide gentle encouragement, guidance and redirection when appropriate, helping family members to engage positively and confidently with the child.
03. Mentoring-Based Support
Mentoring-based support, where agreed as part of the plan, supporting parents and family members to develop confidence, understanding and effective parenting approaches whilst maintaining the focus on the child's needs.

A Child-Centred Approach

Whether providing contact supervision in a hospital, supporting family time in the community, or undertaking observations within the family home, our focus remains on ensuring children feel safe, respected and supported whilst providing professionals with clear, accurate and meaningful information. Through a balanced, child-centred approach, we help families and professionals work towards the best possible outcomes for children.

Make a Referral

Know someone who could use our support? Send their details to our team today.

Email Your Referral

Looking for Advice?