Overview

This bill mandates accreditation of all child contact centres in England by the National Association of Child Contact Centres (NACCC), ensuring they meet specific standards. It also requires local authorities and courts to use only accredited centres for child contact arrangements.

Description

This bill aims to improve safety and consistency in child contact arrangements. All child contact centres in England must gain accreditation from the NACCC. Accreditation will cover either supported or supervised contact, depending on the facilities offered by the centre. The NACCC sets the accreditation standards. The bill amends the Children Act 2004 and the Children Act 1989 to ensure local authorities and courts only utilize NACCC-accredited centers for child contact.

Key Changes:

• Mandatory NACCC accreditation for all child contact centres in England.
• Local authorities must ensure all facilities they use for child contact are accredited.
• Courts must specify accredited centres for child contact in activity directions.

Government Spending

The bill doesn't directly specify government spending. The costs of accreditation for existing centres and any potential government support for centres achieving accreditation are not detailed. Further costs may arise for local authorities in ensuring compliance.

Groups Affected

• Child Contact Centres: Will need to meet NACCC standards to operate legally. Costs associated with accreditation may impact their financial viability.
• Local Authorities: Responsible for ensuring all facilities they use for child contact are accredited, leading to potential administrative and financial burdens.
• Courts: Must only direct contact to take place in accredited centers, requiring knowledge of accredited centers available and possible administrative adjustments.
• Families involved in child contact arrangements: May benefit from improved safety and standardization of child contact facilities.

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