episode three: the importance of child familiarization sessions
- 16 hours ago
- 1 min read
Before a child's first contact visit, there is an important step that often helps make the experience feel more comfortable and predictable: the child familiarisation session.
In this episode, Service Manager Jakki and Senior Contact Worker Sam discuss what child familiarisation sessions are, when they happen, and why they are such an important part of preparing children for contact.
Child familiarisation sessions take place after intake assessments have been completed and a contact worker has been allocated to the family. The session is usually held shortly before the first visit, allowing children to meet their contact worker and begin building a connection before contact starts.
The purpose of the session is simple. It gives children an opportunity to ask questions, become familiar with the process, and meet the person who will be supporting them during visits. It also helps contact workers get to know the children, learn more about their interests, and better understand how they may be feeling about upcoming contact.
For many children, starting supervised contact can bring uncertainty. Taking the time to meet beforehand can help reduce some of those worries and create a more positive experience on the day of the visit.
In this episode, Jakki and Sam explain how child familiarisation sessions fit into the Holding Hands intake process and why taking the time to prepare children before contact can make such a difference.
