F.A.Q

Anchor Contact and Mediation Services is currently undergoing the NACCC accreditation process.

Supervised Contact services:

Our services are designed to support families through difficult transitions while ensuring that children feel secure, valued, and protected. 

What Supervised Contact Offers:

  • A safe, neutral, child‑friendly environment
  • Supportive supervision from trained, experienced staff
  • Calm management of difficult or emotional situations
  • Clear boundaries to protect the child’s emotional and physical safety
  • Accurate, factual recording of each session
  • A respectful, non‑judgmental approach to all family members

Our aim is to make contact sessions as positive and comfortable as possible, helping children maintain important relationships safely.

Where Contact Takes Place:

We provide community‑based supervised contact only. We believe children benefit most when contact happens in everyday environments that feel natural, familiar, and relaxed.

Examples of suitable venues include:

  • Local parks and green spaces
  • Libraries
  • Child‑friendly cafés or restaurants
  • Soft‑play areas
  • Community centres
  • Other public spaces that are age‑appropriate and risk‑assessed
All venues must be appropriate, safe, and agreed as suitable based on the child’s needs and any identified risks.

What areas do we cover?

At present we cover Essex only

Mediation Services:

Family conflict can be overwhelming, especially when children are involved. Our mediation service provides a structured, supportive space where parents can communicate more effectively and work towards practical, child focused solutions.

Anchor Contact and Mediation Services provides supportive, informal family mediation and communication support. Sessions are delivered by staff who include qualified counsellors and experienced family support workers.

We are not a court-approved, legally qualified, or accredited family mediation service, and our mediation is not a substitute for legal advice or formal mediation required by courts or solicitors.

Any agreements reached are informal and non-legally binding unless independently formalised through legal professionals.

What We Offer Through Mediation:

  • A neutral, safe space for parents to discuss concerns
  • Impartial facilitation to help both parties feel heard and respected
  • Support with communication, especially where relationships have broken down
  • Guidance in exploring options around contact, routines, and co‑parenting
  • A child‑centred approach, ensuring decisions prioritise the child’s wellbeing
  • Structured sessions that help reduce conflict and improve cooperation
  • Written summaries of agreements reached (non‑legal but useful for clarity)

Mediation can be especially helpful when:

  • Parents are struggling to agree on contact arrangements
  • Communication has become strained or unproductive
  • There is a desire to avoid further court involvement
  • Families want to create more stable, predictable routines for their children
Our mediators remain neutral at all times and do not take sides. Their role is to help parents move forward constructively, with the child’s needs at the heart of every discussion.

Our Approach, We believe in:

  • Empathy – understanding the challenges families face
  • Respect – treating every individual with dignity
  • Professionalism – maintaining clear boundaries and impartiality
  • Child‑centred practice – prioritising the child’s needs above all else
  • Clear communication – ensuring everyone understands expectations