Working with Families Who are Divorced or Separated Policy
It is important that Next Challenge has the details for both parents of a child, even when those parents are separated or divorced. Parents have a responsibility to provide Next Challenge with copies of any court orders that impact on the relationship between the family and therapy services.
Next Challenge will accept only one parent's consent to commence therapy with a child unless a court order or parenting plan stipulates that both parents must give consent for medical or allied health treatment or that a specific parent must give consent.
In the absence of any specific court orders to the contrary, either parent can speak with a therapist currently seeing their child including by phone or email dialogue. This includes updating each parent on current goals and progress being made. Costs of this contact with the therapists will be allocated to the funding program the child is accessing services under or by the enquiring party under private funding arrangements.
In the absence of specific court orders, each parent is entitled to:
Persons other than parents (e.g. grandparents) may bring a child in for therapy services but such participation is always subject to parental approval.
Next Challenge Directors must be made aware immediately of any Violence Restraining Orders in place. The directors will work with the support team and therapists to make a plan for interactions with families subject to such orders.
Next Challenge Directors require written notification of any requests for therapists to provide written statements or give evidence on behalf of families involved in family law related legal proceedings.
Date Written: April 2016
Date Review Completed: January 2021
Due for Review: January 2023
Next Challenge will accept only one parent's consent to commence therapy with a child unless a court order or parenting plan stipulates that both parents must give consent for medical or allied health treatment or that a specific parent must give consent.
In the absence of any specific court orders to the contrary, either parent can speak with a therapist currently seeing their child including by phone or email dialogue. This includes updating each parent on current goals and progress being made. Costs of this contact with the therapists will be allocated to the funding program the child is accessing services under or by the enquiring party under private funding arrangements.
In the absence of specific court orders, each parent is entitled to:
- know the current therapy goals and home practice activities,
- have access to documentation relating to his or her child subject to the provisions of privacy legislation and the Next Challenge privacy policy.
Persons other than parents (e.g. grandparents) may bring a child in for therapy services but such participation is always subject to parental approval.
Next Challenge Directors must be made aware immediately of any Violence Restraining Orders in place. The directors will work with the support team and therapists to make a plan for interactions with families subject to such orders.
Next Challenge Directors require written notification of any requests for therapists to provide written statements or give evidence on behalf of families involved in family law related legal proceedings.
Date Written: April 2016
Date Review Completed: January 2021
Due for Review: January 2023
