Working with Separated Families
At the Blueprint Psychology, our utmost priority is the holistic wellbeing of the children we serve, encompassing their medical, emotional, and psychological needs. We recognize that many of the children we see come from separated families, where conflicts and breakdowns in communication can hinder collaborative healthcare and impact the child's optimal treatment outcomes. This policy outlines our practice's philosophy to ensure that the best interests of our patients are always prioritised.
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Expectation of Respectful Collaboration:
We expect separated parents to work together respectfully and cooperatively regarding the care of their child. Major decisions concerning a child's medical treatment, such as initiating medication or starting intervention therapy, should be made jointly by both parents whenever possible.
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Providing Relevant Legal Documents:
It is the parents' responsibility to provide us with any relevant legal documents or court orders pertaining to the child's care.
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Involvement in Appointments and Reports:
Either parent or legal guardian can schedule an appointment for their child, be present at the appointment, and/or receive a copy of their child's reports, unless there is a court order limiting their involvement in the child's care. In such cases, please provide these court orders during your initial visit to the clinic.
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Communication and Feedback:
If one parent schedules the appointment, they are responsible for informing the other parent, inviting them to attend, and sharing feedback with them. Clinic reports will be sent to the parent who attends the appointment, and it is their responsibility to forward the reports to the other parent. While we cannot provide separate feedback to each parent, we encourage both parents to attend appointments and will gladly provide copies of correspondence to each parent upon specific request.
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Payment and Legal Agreements:
Payment for the child's appointment is expected on the day of the visit. If there is a legal agreement requiring the other parent to cover all or part of the treatment costs, it is the attending parent's responsibility to settle the account and seek reimbursement from the other parent. We do not do split billing.
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Resolving Conflict and Limiting Services:
In cases of significant conflict, we reserve the right to request court orders, obtain signed consent from both parents, or limit our services until disputes are resolved. If necessary, we may discharge a family from the clinic if the conflict disrupts the clinic's functioning or impedes the child's care.
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Limitations on Legal Decision-Making Assessments:
We do not accept referrals where the assessment's purpose is solely to generate information for legal decision-making concerning custody issues in parental separation.
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Providing Comprehensive Information:
We strive to accommodate all family circumstances and deliver the best possible care to your children. Please assist us by providing all relevant information regarding your family situation during your first appointment with us.
By adhering to these principles, we foster an environment of collaboration, support, and understanding, which ultimately contributes to the well-being and progress of the children we serve. Thank you for entrusting us with the care of your child at the Blueprint Psychology.