The Scottish Government

2004

CONTENTS

CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION
BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE RESEARCH
CHAPTER TWO METHODOLOGY AND CONDUCT OF RESEARCH
STAGE ONE - MAPPING EXERCISE
STAGE TWO - RESEARCH WITH STAFF AND REFERRERS
STAGE THREE - RESEARCH WITH FAMILIES
REPORT OUTLINE
CHAPTER THREE CHILD CONTACT CENTRE PROVISION AND USAGE IN SCOTLAND
THE NATURE OF CHILD CONTACT CENTRE PROVISION IN SCOTLAND
REFERRAL PATTERNS
USER PROFILES
SUMMARY
CHAPTER FOUR KNOWLEDGE AND EXPECTATIONS OF CHILD CONTACT CENTRE PROVISION
UNDERSTANDING 'CONTACT'
UNDERSTANDING OF THE ROLE OF CONTACT CENTRES FOR FAMILIES IN
TRANSITION AND THE LEGAL PROCESS
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPECTATIONS OF CONTACT CENTRE PROVISION
SUMMARY
CHAPTER FIVE THE REFERRAL PROCESS
UNDERSTANDING THE NATURE OF THE REFERRAL PROCESS
INFORMATION AVAILABLE ABOUT CHILD CONTACT CENTRES
MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT CONTACT
DIFFICULTIES IN THE REFERRAL PROCESS
SUMMARY
CHAPTER SIX MAPPING THE CONTACT EXPERIENCE
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
TYPE OF CONTACT
FREQUENCY AND LENGTH OF VISITS
ATMOSPHERE AT THE CENTRE
THE CONTENT OF CONTACT SESSIONS
THE ROLE OF STAFF
SUMMARY
CHAPTER SEVEN THE IMPACT OF CHILD CONTACT CENTRES ON FAMILIES
OUTCOMES AND IMPACTS - THE FAMILIES' PERSPECTIVE
OUTCOMES AND IMPACTS - THE STAFF PERSPECTIVE
OUTCOMES AND IMPACTS - THE REFERRERS PERSPECTIVE
TRANSITIONS AFTER USE OF CENTRES
SUMMARY
CHAPTER EIGHT CONCLUSIONS
THE NATURE AND ROLE OF CONTACT CENTRES WITH REGARD TO THE SCOTTISH
LEGAL PROCESS
EXPECTATIONS ABOUT PROVISION AND ISSUES RELATING TO THE REFERRAL
PROCESS
CONTACT CENTRE PROVISION
OUTCOMES
SUMMARY

ANNEXES
CONTACT LETTERS
TOPIC GUIDES
INFORMATION LEAFLET AND CONSENT FORM
THEMATIC FRAMEWORK FOR ANALYSIS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We are indebted to the parents, children, staff, professionals and Sheriffs who contributed to this research. We have been ably assisted by Sam Coope, Claire Monaghan and Debbie Headrick from Social Research. We would also like to express our sincere thanks to the staff of the child contact centres themselves whose time and co-operation with the research team made this research possible.

At the National Centre we would like to thank Marion Clayden, Jill Keegan, and James Scott.

The research team

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