Coronavirus update

I just wanted to update you on the situation regarding our service, Family Mediation Central Scotland (FMCS). 

Our contact centres remain closed for supported and supervised contact sessions.  We are however able to offer handover and return services on a limited basis.  This situation will continue to be in place until sometime in April.  We will keep this page updated with any developments. 

Mediation and intake appointments will still be offered online. 

Our Digital Post Box Service remains available to existing and new clients. This service has been well-used by parents during lockdown for making arrangements via FMCS for indirect contact with children, for example, exchanging photos, videos or messages, the idea being that our staff can act as go-betweens.  We appreciate the importance of trying to maintain at least some family connections during this difficult time when the service is suspended. 

If you are interested in any of the above, please visit the ‘Contact Us’ page, send us an e-mail and a member of staff will be in touch. Alternatively, our telephone line (01786-472984) is still operational for any enquiries or to make an appointment. If you would like to leave a message, a member of staff will call you back. 

I understand that there has been a drastic change in the way we are able to provide our service to you, and I thank you for bearing with us at this challenging time for us all.   

Please stay safe and keep well.

Kathleen Frew
 

The Service Manager

With the present Covid-19 social distancing measures in place, it may be more difficult for children to keep in contact with parents or other family members they do not live with.  For parents who do not have direct contact with one another, we can provide a digital post box service to keep parents updated as to how their child is during the current restrictions.    

What we can provide

•  A regular email update about, from or to your child.  Frequency of messaging will be agreed in advance between both parents and the service.   
• Photographs or scanned drawings. 
• Videos of child (via WhatsApp). 

 How we keep you safe  

• We will not share contact details, including email addresses, between parents.  All correspondence you receive will come from an fmcs (family mediation central) email address or our WhatsApp account. 
• We will read or watch everything sent between parents and reserve the right not to pass on anything we have concerns about.
• Videos and photographs will be deleted from our system once they have been sent to the other parent. 

The following protocols are in place for using this service and must be adhered to

• Keep the messages for/about/from the child and do not attempt to engage with the other parent. 
• Do not make promises you cannot keep at this time
• Do not ask personal questions or make negative comments about the other parent or wider family. 
• Do not make requests for money or other items.  
• Please make videos no longer than 2 minutes in duration.  

Where possible, please send all items for forwarding as an email attachment.  All videos should be sent by WhatsApp.    If you would like to consider using this service, please get in touch by phone, e-mail or through the Contact Us section on this website.