Contact Agreement for the Contact Service Northamptonshire

During Covid 19

This Contact Agreement lists the expectations of everyone involved in the contact to ensure the child’s safety, welfare and wellbeing. Please ensure that you understand each point before signing this Agreement.

Contact Agreement for the Contact Service must be signed by all parties to be put in place for the duration of the Covid 19 Period

Discussions must have taken place between Social Worker, Contact Supervisor, Parents and Foster Carers to inform them of the phased return of face to face contacts and how these will be managed

The Contact Supervisor / Social Worker must inform the parent that Face to Face Contact is offered on the agreement of all parties concerned adhering to guidelines and precautions set out in the risk assessment for the duration of the Covid 19 Period

The Contact Supervisor must support Parents, Carers and Child/ren to make the contact as positive as possible in this situation

The Contact Supervisor

A risk assessment needs to be undertaken to ensure safety requirements are met; Contact Supervisors must adhere to the risk around those parents who cannot take photos during face to face contacts and will not allow photos or videos to be shared.

Parents

Parents must inform the Contact Supervisor if they have or previously had any Covid 19 symptoms.

Parents will not be allowed to enter the venue prior to contact starting and must wait outside.

Parent/s must not be under the influence of alcohol or drugs and must be in a fit state to attend the session with their child/ren

Parent/s must not bring any other persons in the Contact session – unless agreed in advance with the Social Worker

Neither party should speak negatively about the other in front of the child. Neither party should discuss legal issues or complaints regarding their situation in front of the child (for example Court proceedings / alleged abusive adults / allegations of abuse / future plans, etc.).

There must be no whispering, no use of foreign language without an interpreter present, no swear words, no name-calling, no ridiculing, no loud talk and no note passing.

There must be no arguing in front of any of the children. Abusive or aggressive behaviour, racist or other offensive remarks will not be tolerated. If any of this occurs during the Contact session the Contact Supervisor will end the session.

There must be no verbal confrontation between supervisors, parents, carers during the contact session. While staff recognise that a party may have differences of opinion, it is not appropriate to discuss them in front of the child/ren.

There should be no prolonged goodbyes and timing of session must be adhered to.

During the course of Supervised Contact Session the Contact Supervisor may terminate the session if any of the above rules are violated.

Prior to re-introducing face to face contacts we will need you to sign in agreement of the following statements:

HEALTH RISKS:

I will notify my child’s social worker or the contact supervisor if I or a member of my household becomes unwell and the contact will be cancelled. If you have any of the symptoms of coronavirus, or if anyone in your household has symptoms you will be required to isolate for 14 days.

The Contact Supervisor has the authority to cancel the contact if a parent/family member attends the contact and presents as being unwell. In this situation the parent or family and the members of their households will not be permitted to attend a contact centre for 14 days.

I understand that no parent/carer will be allowed into the buildings until told otherwise by the contact supervisor

I understand that parents/carers need to undertake as stringent practice as possible to reduce transmission of the virus and other illnesses. I will wash my hands once in the venue and use antibacterial hand gel during the contact session.

I understand that my child/ren may be brought to and from contact by NCC transport which have social distancing measures in place and staff wearing full PPE

I understand that the contact supervisor will collect and return my child/ren from the transport vehicle and I will leave the venue straight away at the end of the session.

I understand that the contact supervisor will try to maintain social distancing, but there may be occasions when they are closer than 2 metres to you and your child/ren

I understand that whilst the venue is regularly cleaned and rooms are cleaned after each session, and whilst I will engage in frequent hand-washing, the service are unable to guarantee a virus-free venue.

All toys used in the contact session will be cleaned after each contact.

I agree to wear PPE. Masks, aprons and gloves will be provided at the contact centre at the start of the supervised contacts. If I refuse to wear PPE then the contact will not go ahead.
If I take my PPE off during the contact I understand that the contact will be terminated.

I will ensure that I have high levels of hygiene and cleanliness to reduce the risk of transmission by washing my hands on arrival and use hand gel during the session.

I agree that no food will be brought to the session / consumed in the session. Children will be provided with drinks by the Foster Carer if needed.

I understand that staff will wear items of PPE which may include face masks.

I agree to place the used PPE in the bags provided and tie these up. The Contact Supervisor will place the PPE in a bin which is in a designated area in the contact centre.

To reduce the risk of spreading the infection I agree that contact sessions will be limited to a maximum of 1 hour.

CLOTHING / PERSONAL ITEMS

I will attend the contact venue and adhere to the guidelines of leaving bags, coats and any other items that could potentially transmit the virus outside the contact room and to be collected on leaving

ILLNESS

I understand that no child will be brought to the contact if they are unwell. If they have any of the symptoms of coronavirus, or if anyone in the household has symptoms the child and the whole household will be required to isolate for 14 days if this is the case and you will be informed.

I understand that if my child becomes ill during the time of the contact session the contact will be ended and the child returned to their placement immediately and placed in isolation in accordance with government guidance.

I understand that the Contact Service Practices during the Covid 19 period are under constant review and that this could lead to changes in contact at short notice according to Government Guidelines

SIGNED ______________________________________

PARENT NAME ________________________________

DATE ________________________________________

SIGNED ______________________________________

CONTACT SUPERVISOR NAME _______________________________

DATE _________________________________________

SOCIAL WORKER NAME ________________________________

SIGNED ___________________________________

DATE _________________________________________