Office refurb paves way for better services for children and
families
25 October 2007
Cafcass, the organisation that looks after children’s interests
in the family courts, today formally opens a refurbished centre in
Peterborough to provide improved opportunities for family mediation
and contact across Cambridgeshire.
Anthony Douglas, Cafcass Chief
Executive says, "We work with children in the family courts.
Whether their parents are divorcing or separating or a child is
going through care proceedings – it is a stressful time for all
involved. So I am really pleased that we have been able to
refurbish the Peterborough office to provide an environment better
suited to delivering modern family mediation services and
opportunities for children and families to maintain contact. This
new service for Cambridgeshire is evidence of the strong
partnerships we have built up with other local agencies such as the
local authority, the Probation Service and the Family Welfare
Association."
The new development in Peterborough
provides quality facilities for interviewing children and families
as well as improved accommodation and security for staff. The
multi-purpose building is designed for modern ways of working and
includes areas for contact and managing dispute resolution.
Facilities include a conference room
for meetings and training events. Plus there are three break-away
rooms, two of which are family rooms which will help in our work
with supporting families and children.
The Cambridgeshire Cafcass Team has
recently entered into a new partnership agreement with Family
Welfare Association (FWA) and from November 2007 the building will
be used as a Contact Centre.
Cafcass Cambridgeshire are very
grateful for the help received from Probation Service colleagues
who have cleared the garden to provide a small secure play area
where families can enjoy contact together outside.