S2 E1 - Child Contact Services with Benjamin Goddard from Holding Hands Family Services
In this episode of the Simply Separated Podcast we had the opportunity to hear from Benjamin Goddard, general manager of ‘Holding Hands Family Services’. We discuss the practical process of attending a supervised parental visit as well as the emotional effects on all parties that is considered by Holding Hands Family Services.
In this episode we talk about:
The services that Holding Hands provides to families
- The importance of a child maintaining safe and supportive contact with both their parents.
- Benjamin explains that due to time separated from a parent, a child may have anxiety or concerns about seeing that parent.
- The role of a contact supervisor during a family meeting.
- Every family comes with their own narrative and is treated as such.
- Holding Hands works with both parents to set up meetings on neutral territory.
- Benjamin explains how the assigned contact supervisor builds a relationship with the child prior to any meetings.
- Cassandra shares some of the concerns she receives from her clients as a family lawyer.
- Holding Hands provides comprehensive visit reports following each meeting.
- Benjamin explains how visit locations are selected and the process of change over between parents to avoid contact.
- With current restrictions due to Covid-19, Benjamin explains the current process of online contact and what this looks like for parents and children.
- The minor details that are considered in video chats at the live-in parents’ home.
- Time is defined as contact and in an age of technology, we are able to keep contact throughout this unprecedented time.
Sit back and enjoy this helpful interview with Benjamin Goddard.
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