Woodview are guided on the levels of contact with family members by each young person's Placing Authority. Contact arrangements and restrictions are recorded on file in the young person’s journal and clearly identified in their Placement Plan and Risk assessments. Any such restriction will be subject to review at planned statutory Reviews and Placement Plans will be updated accordingly. Agreed family contact visits will be actively promoted including those to the home at Woodview. Plans will made with the child, within agreements with the local authority, so that they can look forward to the visit and decide what they would like to do with their family while they are here. The young person will be encouraged to choose a meal and help prepare this and to be involved and participate in the serving of what they have helped to create. Contact visits will be staffed as agreed with the local authority and if the visits are to be supervised then while remaining as vigilant as necessary, staff will appear relaxed and friendly so that the child and their family can enjoy their time together. Staff will ensure that if the child is upset after a visit or that there are concerns around an aspect of the contact, that support is given to the child and that all concerns are reported to the social worker at the earliest opportunity. Letters, cards and telephone calls will not be restricted unless specifically requested by the local authority and there are known concerns, or reasonable suspicion that correspondence may contain items that would put the young person, or others, at risk. Friends will be actively encouraged to visit, subject to risk assessment and that provided consent is mutual and received from the other child’s parents/guardians. All staff at the home provide a warm welcome to ensure contact in the home is a positive experience and value communication and consultation with parents and family where appropriate. For those young people who are boarding the home will facilitate planned holidays to coincide with the school holiday periods. The programme of care and education we offer, will address many issues surrounding relationships. Helping the young people to find and understand key skills that can help them make positive family relationships for the future and coming to terms with past experiences. CONSULTATION Prior to each new placement, the young person will receive a guide with suitable language including PECS to introduce the Home and the Manager. The Manager and another staff member will meet with the young person prior to placement at
Woodview are guided on the levels of contact with family members by each young person's Placing Authority. Contact arrangements and restrictions are recorded on file in the young person’s journal and clearly identified in their Placement Plan and Risk assessments. Any such restriction will be subject to review at planned statutory Reviews and Placement Plans will be updated accordingly. Agreed family contact visits will be actively promoted including those to the home at Woodview. Plans will made with the child, within agreements with the local authority, so that they can look forward to the visit and decide what they would like to do with their family while they are here. The young person will be encouraged to choose a meal and help prepare this and to be involved and participate in the serving of what they have helped to create. Contact visits will be staffed as agreed with the local authority and if the visits are to be supervised then while remaining as vigilant as necessary, staff will appear relaxed and friendly so that the child and their family can enjoy their time together. Staff will ensure that if the child is upset after a visit or that there are concerns around an aspect of the contact, that support is given to the child and that all concerns are reported to the social worker at the earliest opportunity. Letters, cards and telephone calls will not be restricted unless specifically requested by the local authority and there are known concerns, or reasonable suspicion that correspondence may contain items that would put the young person, or others, at risk. Friends will be actively encouraged to visit, subject to risk assessment and that provided consent is mutual and received from the other child’s parents/guardians. All staff at the home provide a warm welcome to ensure contact in the home is a positive experience and value communication and consultation with parents and family where appropriate. For those young people who are boarding the home will facilitate planned holidays to coincide with the school holiday periods. The programme of care and education we offer, will address many issues surrounding relationships. Helping the young people to find and understand key skills that can help them make positive family relationships for the future and coming to terms with past experiences. CONSULTATION Prior to each new placement, the young person will receive a guide with suitable language including PECS to introduce the Home and the Manager. The Manager and another staff member will meet with the young person prior to placement at