Dads' Space
Dads' Space 1-2-1 - the virtual child contact centre
This service is changing how contact arrangements are managed is difficult circumstances. The mechanism through which many young people conduct their social relationships is undergoing a revolution. One in four parents said they use social networking sites to stay in touch with their children (Relate, 2010). Young people are increasingly comfortable with this new technology but many of us have been slow to realise how this technology could add to a safe, supervised child contact. Dads' Space 1-2-1, the Virtual Contact Centre, takes this new technology and makes it work to keep children safe and to support their relationship with fathers who they are separated from. The site encourages Dads to maintain and enhance their relationship with their children; enabling children to stay in contact with their Dad, even in difficult circumstances.
Why Dads' Space 1-2-1?
Often Dads find themselves isolated as parents and many report finding their relationship with their children, difficult to maintain after separation. Dads' Space 1-2-1 aims to bridge the gap and address the problems parental separation creates for many families, Dads in particular.
When child contact is problematic due to acrimonious separation and allegations of abuse, enabling safe, responsible father involvement has often proved problematic. Dads' Space 1-2-1 has been developed to find a way to enable this, that:
A. Works for children - through providing them with more autonomy over contact arrangements and because children are more familiar with the internet as a way of supporting social relationships.
B. Allows fathers to communicate with their children in a way that does not place either the child or mother at risk. Dads' Space 1-2-1 is a secure on-line service where safety is a priority, while still promoting Dads involvement in their children's lives.
How does Dads' Space work?
Like child contact in the real world, there are levels of access depending on safety and risk. All services offering support to children and families do so using a referral process and completing a risk assessment and Dads' Space 1-2-1 is no exception. Following the completion of the assessment, the Dads' Space 1-2-1 moderator will determine what level of contact:
Supervised - allowing a broad exchange of information, sharing photos and the playing of games. However, all communication is moderated before it is transmitted.
Supported - this allows free real-time communication which is sampled and post moderated to ensure that the service is being used appropriately.
For further information on Dads' Space 121 email Dads-Space@respect.uk.net
Crown copyright 2011. Dads Space 121 is licensed under the Open Government Licence . Open Government Licence.