Our Policies
Arranging Exchanges and Visits
Cancellations and Fees
Guests
Timing Your Visits - Be On Time!
Lateness
Loitering
Meal and Snacks
Clean Up and Breakages
Clothing
Medication
Camera and Audio/Video
Substance Abuse
Neutrality
Washroom Arrangements
Accidents
Serious Occurrences
Violence
Staff
- The rules and regulations below provide general information only and in no way constitutes The Rose Garden Family Support Centre's Supervised Access Program policies and procedures in their entirety.
Arranging Exchanges and Visits
- All exchanges and visits must be pre-arranged through the Coordinator and/or Executive Director. Unscheduled exchanges and visits are not permitted.
Cancellations and Fees
- If you need to cancel an exchange or visit please contact our office at least 24 hours in advance of the scheduled exchange/visit otherwise fees will be charged.
- Repeated cancellations will be reviewed by the Executive Director.
- Three "no shows" in a row may result in file suspension and discharge from the program.
- Make up exchanges/visits may be arranged if the child is ill or the custodial parent is unable to bring the child to the centre for a scheduled exchange/visit.
Guests
- Guest will be permitted in the centre for a supervised visit only by court order or approval by the custodial parent. If you wish to bring an approved guest to the visit, you must contact the supervisor at least 24 hours in advance before you scheduled visit.
Timing Your Visits - Be On Time!
- The non-custodial parent is required to be a the centre 10-15 minutes ahead of the scheduled time of the exchange or visit and leave 10-15 minutes after the end of the exchange or visit.
- The custodial parent is required to arrive with the child(ren) at the exact time of the scheduled start and leave immediately following the finish or end exchange/visit.
- The custodial parent is required to leave a phone number (if not the same as on file) where they can be reached during the time of exchange or visit.
- It is the responsibility of the parents (non-custodial and custodial) to inform staff of any change of address or phone numbers.
- Custodial parents are required to inform the staff of any emergency information regarding the child(ren).
- It is the custodial parent's responsibility to inform the staff if anyone other than the custodial parent will be dropping off or picking up the child(ren). The Rose Garden Family Support Centre reserves the right to check the ID of this person.
- The centre reserves the right to stop a visit at any time if a child appears distressed. In the best interest or the child we allow 20 minutes for a child to settle and, if this does not work, we will end the visit.
Lateness
- All persons are required to contact the centre staff it they know they will be late.
- Children will not be made to wait more than 15 minutes for an access parent to arrive for an exchange or visit.
- The late return of a child from an exchange for the access parent is not permitted.
- A late arrival will result in a $ 5.00 fee.
Loitering
- Loitering on or around (a three block radius) of The Rose Garden Family Support Centre, Brockville or Smiths Falls facility, is not permitted. You must leave the area immediately once the supervisor permits you to leave.
Meal and Snacks
- When visits are scheduled over a mealtime, the parent who is responsible for supplying the meal will be decided on intake. The custodial parent should provide information such as meal times, food allergies, diapers, bottles and types of food the child prefers, needs or should not have.
Clean Up and Breakages
- Parents are responsible for clean up toys, food, drinks, and washing the dishes they use, etc. before leaving the centre.
- If your child breaks or damages toys or equipment, you may be responsible to replace it.
Clothing
- Custodial parents must provide an appropriate change of clothing and diapers for the visiting child.
Medication
- Custodial parents are to inform the Coordinator and/or Executive Director in writing with regard to any life-sustaining medication that must be administered during visits.
Camera and Audio/Video
- The custodial parent is advised that the centre will take a picture of their child(ren) on first attendance at the centre.
- Cameras may be used at the discretion of The Rose Garden Family Support Centre staff unless prohibited by court order.
- *** NO audio or video recording is permitted at anytime***
- Cellular phones are not to be used during visits.
Substance Abuse
- Alcohol and drug abuse will not be tolerated and will result in the immediate termination of the visit or exchange.
- If we even SUSPECT you have been using alcohol or drugs, we have the right to terminate the visit or exchange.
- No child is released at any time to any person thought to have consumed alcohol or non-prescribed drugs.
- Smoking is not permitted in the building, nor within 8 meters (or 25 feet) of the building.
Neutrality
- Do not discourage your child(ren) from the visits, or speak harshly about the other parent in front of the child(ren).
- Access parents or their guests are not to question the child(ren) about the other parent. Demeaning the other parent or the child(ren) will not be allowed at anytime. In the best interest of the child(ren) avoid discussing court, custody, or access issues and keep your conversation in the present.
- While you are at the centre you are required to give your full attention to your child.
- NO WHISPERING AT ANY TIME
Washroom Arrangements
- Staff will monitor all washroom visits in which the child(ren) must be assisted.
Accidents
- For accidents not requiring medical attention, The Rose Garden Family Support Centre staff will: Treat the injury specifically, apply first aid if needed, and provide maximum comfort for the child(ren).
Serious Occurrences
- Any act of physical punishment.
- Any threat of physical violence against anyone at the centre.
- An accident or incident that requires medical or emergency interventions.
- Any serious injury which occurs to a child while in this program.
- Any complaint made by or about a child that is considered by The Rose Garden Family Support Centre staff to be of a serious nature.
- Any disaster such as fire.
- Any situation where a child is not returned the the centre from an exchange.
- In the event of a serious occurrence all persons will comply with the serious occurrence procedure established by The Rose Garden Family Support Centre.
Violence
- Any acts of violence, whether verbal or physical, is not tolerated at any time.
- Any threat of physical violence may result in suspension from the program.
- Any act of physical violence will result in termination from the program.
Staff
- Staff are not to be used as messengers or babysitters by either party.
- Our staff are not lawyers, counselors, or agents of either party.
- Concerns outside of supervised access should be directed to your lawyers.
- Observations recorded on exchanges or visit forms are simply records of the parent/child(ren) interaction and are not an "assessment."
- Parents may read records of an exchange or visit by appointment only, not on the day of the exchange/visit. Forms are not photocopied for clients. A copy may be obtained by written request from your lawyer to which fees are applicable.