We Are?
Founded in 2011 to provide children and families with a different contact experience than those available to them. There were issues with the contact centre model and New Leaf set out to do better.
Built on the vision that to rebuild families we need to focus in on the child, repairing relationships and build a new, open and honest family structure that works for each member of the family – however that now looks.
- Our MissionTo achieve the right outcome for every child going through the family separation process. To support family reflection, enable positive interactions and build skills for a new family start.
- Our VisionIs that every child will have the opportunity to heal from the separation process, in a safe, open and joyful environment resulting in the best possible family outcomes.
the founder
I created New Leaf to give families a new start. No-one expects their family to separate but when it does happen, how do you rebuild your family unit and move forwards? I wanted to give families a natural environment to learn how to be with one another again without the added pressures of a noisy, busy and unfamiliar environment. I asked myself – why wouldn’t you supervise contact in real locations – how will you ever know what a real situation looks like for a family if you never see one? Having a background in social care and complex behaviour support I also knew the importance of accurate reporting and how the details can be so important to decision-making. I set out to do things differently – to provide the right experiences for children and their families – to give them the best possible chance to rebuild whilst at the same time ensuring that the right court decisions were made – for the child. Today am I proud of what we have achieved up and down the country.
Our Team
Every contact supervisor at New Leaf Family Services holds a minimum of NVQ Level 3 in Children and Young People’s Workforce or equivalent. Before joining our team, all supervisors undergo:
- Enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks
- Verification of qualifications and right to work in the UK
- A detailed health questionnaire
- Training in child-centred contact supervision, safeguarding, and report writing
We are committed to the ongoing professional development of our team, ensuring every supervisor is equipped to handle the complexity and sensitivity of supervised family contact.
Our Approach to Supervised Contact
We believe that supervised contact should never feel like surveillance. Our approach is warm, child-led, and focused on building positive experiences between children and their parents or wider family members.
Rather than confining contact to a noisy contact centre, we facilitate meetings in parks, bowling alleys, soft play areas, cafes, and community spaces — environments where families can interact naturally. This community-based model supports more authentic observations and better outcomes for children.
Safeguarding
The safety of every child we work with is our absolute priority. All supervisors follow a robust safeguarding framework aligned with Working Together to Safeguard Children guidance. Any concerns are reported promptly to the relevant local authority or safeguarding board.
Our Experience
Since 2011, New Leaf Family Services has supported over 500 families and worked with more than 35 local authorities across England and Wales. We have extensive experience in:
- Court-ordered supervised contact
- Private supervised contact arrangements
- Child-to-parent reunification cases
- High-conflict family situations
- Complex cases involving safeguarding concerns