Family Time
Overview
We strive to do all we can in collaboration with all parties to honor families by providing a safe and welcoming family friendly environment to connect. We provide a range of Casework Support Services through our Family Time Program. Our priorities in delivering this service include:
- Honour the strengths and abilities of children and their family
- Provide a safe and family-friendly environment
- Work to preserve and improve parent-child relationships
- Give children and their families a voice
We go to great effort to match a child/young person and their family with the most suitable staff member to enable all parties to feel comfortable and minimise barriers to connection.
We currently provide supervised family time services, mentoring, coaching, transport and daytime respite on behalf of the NSW Department of Communities and Justice on non-government organisations (Note: These are fee-based services and terms and conditions apply).
Our qualified and experienced Family Time workers facilitate the delivery of our services in a manner which is impartial and free from judgement, maintaining a professionalism which is reflected in their detailed observational reports.
Family Time services cover multiple locations including (but not limited to) the Hunter, Central Coast, North Coast, and Sydney Metro areas.
Supervised Contact
Supervised visits facilitated by one or more of our Family Time Workers to provide enjoyable, positive, and safe connection with family.
Visits are undertaken in safe and family and child friendly spaces at a range of approved indoor and outdoor family friendly locations.
Supervised Transport
Supervised transport provided by one or more of our Family Time Workers using a comprehensively insured vehicle fitted with approved Australian Standard age-appropriate seats.
Mentoring & Coaching
Family Time Workers provide goal-driven support, role modelling, and knowledge and skills sharing experiences with the young person. This service can be based at home or in the community, and include activities as designated by the referring agency or for a specific time scheduled between child/young person and Family Time Worker for a designated number of sessions.
Coaching offers a focused and results orientated approach, helping children and young people set and achieve specific goals.
Daytime Respite
Supervised daytime respite facilitated by one of our Family Time Workers for a recurring or one-off session to support carers between 6:00am – 11:00pm.
Daytime respite can occur in a variety of in or out-of-home settings. It can be for different lengths of time and frequency, depending on the needs of the child/young person and the carer (in accordance with referring agency approval).
Frequently asked questions
In general, all details of visits are determined by the Department of Communities and Justice or other referring agency. The Canopy is not responsible for determining these details, only for providing quality service in accordance with them.
The Canopy’s Family Time program has both a daytime landline and after-hours mobile for immediate contact, or an email address. All this information will be provided to you ahead of time.
The Canopy will provide a schedule of planned visits, including times and locations, prior to the first visit.
Please let us know as soon as possible. Additionally, it would be a good idea to contact the referring agency to advise them as well.