Child and Family Specialist

The process of family separation can be a tricky for children to navigate. Where the parents need assistance with the custody arrangements, clients have the option of engaging our inhouse Child and Family Specialist to conduct Child Informed Practice (CIP).

Child informed practice is designed to enhance collaboration between parents and keep the best interest of the children at the forefront of their decision making.

This process provides an opportunity for children to talk independently with a trained Child Consultant in a safe, supportive and comfortable environment. Children have the opportunity to express themselves and talk about related concerns thus bringing their views and perspectives into the room. The Child Consultant then provides feedback and recommendations to the parents.

How does it work?

With the consent of the parents the children spend time with the child consultant on their own with the appointment taking less than 1 hour per child. The Child Consultant will spend time playing, drawing and talking with the children. The children are never put in a position to where they feel pressure to answer any given question and they are not asked to make decisions. Through play the children can express themselves and explore their feelings.

Soon after the children’s appointment the Child Consultant will arrange for the parents to receive the feedback at recommendations. In our model the Child Consultant will provide verbal feedback in the presence of the parents and the parent’s solicitors so that a collaborative approach can be taken to reach agreements.

The Child Consultant will facilitate conversations that preserves significant relationships and supports children’s and adult’s psychological adjustment to the separation whilst reaching agreements that are in the best interest of the child.