Children, Young People & Families Policy

Summary

Belconnen Psychological Assessments (BPA) provides assessment services to children and young people within family, educational, healthcare and community contexts. This policy explains how BPA works with children, parents, guardians, caregivers, schools and other associated parties. It outlines important information regarding consent, confidentiality, parental responsibility, communication, family law matters, access to information, and the role of associated parties in the assessment process. The welfare, safety and best interests of children and young people remain central to all clinical and organisational decision-making undertaken by BPA.

1. Purpose

This policy explains how BPA delivers services involving children, young people, parents, guardians, caregivers, schools and other associated parties.

It should be read together with the Assessment Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, Billing & Cancellation Policy, Financial Consent documentation, and any other documents provided during the intake process.

This policy applies to all services provided in relation to children and young people under the age of 18 years.

2. Child as the primary client

When services are provided in relation to a child or young person, the child or young person (child) is the primary client of the practice.

This remains the case even where a parent, guardian, caregiver, school, organisation, funding body or other person initiates the referral, provides information, participates in appointments, signs consent documentation, or accepts responsibility for payment.

Parents, guardians, caregivers and other involved parties are generally considered associated parties who may provide information, facilitate participation, provide consent where appropriate, and/or accept responsibility for payment, but are not themselves the primary client unless expressly agreed otherwise.

BPA’s professional obligations are directed primarily toward the welfare, wellbeing and assessment needs of the child or young person.

The welfare, safety and best interests of the child or young person remain central to all clinical and organisational decision-making undertaken by BPA.

3. Parents, guardians, caregivers and associated parties

Associated parties may include:

• Parents;
• Guardians;
• Foster carers;
• Kinship carers;
• Caregivers;
• Schools and educational providers;
• Referring practitioners;
• Support coordinators;
• Other healthcare professionals;
• Community organisations; and
• Other individuals involved in the child’s care.

Associated parties may be involved in the assessment process by:

• Providing information;
• Participating in interviews;
• Completing questionnaires and rating scales;
• Attending feedback appointments;
• Facilitating attendance; and
• Assisting with implementation of recommendations.

The nature and extent of involvement will vary depending on the circumstances of the child, referral, legal arrangements and clinical requirements.

4. Consent and decision-making

BPA considers consent requirements on a case-by-case basis.

In determining whether services can proceed, BPA may consider:

• The age and circumstances of the child or young person;
• The child’s capacity to participate in decision-making;
• Parental responsibility arrangements;
• Available court orders and legal documents;
• Relevant legislation;
• Professional obligations;
• The views of persons with parental responsibility;
• The views of the child or young person where appropriate;
• Safety considerations; and
• The nature of the service being requested.

Clinical and organisational judgment is reserved regarding whether consent from one person, multiple people, or additional information is required before services can proceed.

The existence of parental disagreement does not automatically prevent services from proceeding, nor does consent from one parent automatically guarantee that services will proceed.

BPA may seek additional information, request further documentation, require additional consent, postpone services, suspend services or decline a referral where consent arrangements are unclear or where proceeding is not considered appropriate.

In all circumstances, the welfare, safety and best interests of the child or young person remain the primary consideration.

5. Mature minors and young people’s consent

BPA recognises that some young people may have sufficient maturity and understanding to provide informed consent for services.

Assessment of a young person’s capacity to provide consent will occur in accordance with applicable law, professional standards and clinical judgment.

Where a young person is considered capable of providing informed consent, their views, preferences and confidentiality interests will be given appropriate consideration.

The assessment of a young person’s capacity may be reviewed if circumstances change over time.

6. Family law matters and legal documents

Clients must provide copies of any current or historical documents that may affect:

• Parental responsibility;
• Decision-making authority;
• Consent arrangements;
• Communication arrangements;
• Information-sharing;
• Safety considerations; or
• Service delivery.

This includes, but is not limited to:

• Parenting Orders;
• Consent Orders;
• Parenting Plans;
• Family Violence Orders;
• Personal Violence Orders;
• Apprehended Violence Orders or equivalent orders from other jurisdictions;
• Undertakings;
• Child Protection Orders;
• Guardianship Orders;
• Care and Protection Orders;
• Family Dispute Resolution agreements;
• Written parenting agreements; and
• Any other document, agreement, order or arrangement relevant to the child, young person, parents, caregivers or family system.

These documents must be provided during the screening and intake process.

BPA relies on the information provided by clients and associated parties when making clinical, administrative and consent-related decisions.

Failure to disclose relevant information, court orders, parenting arrangements, safety concerns, family violence matters, legal proceedings, or other material circumstances may affect service delivery and assessment outcomes. Responsibility for any consequences arising from such non-disclosure remains with the person who failed to provide the information.

BPA does not independently verify all information provided by clients, parents, caregivers, schools, professionals or other parties. BPA is entitled to rely on information and documentation provided to the practice unless there is reason to believe the information is inaccurate, incomplete or unreliable.

BPA reserves the right to review, amend, suspend or discontinue services if previously undisclosed information becomes known.

7. Screening and complex family circumstances

Some referrals involving children and young people require significant clarification regarding consent, parental responsibility, guardianship arrangements, court orders, family violence issues, communication arrangements, information-sharing responsibilities, or other legal and practical matters before services can commence.

Where review, clarification, consultation, correspondence, record review or decision-making regarding these matters requires more than 15 minutes of psychologist time, BPA may require one or more consultation appointments to be booked before services proceed.

Fees for these consultations will generally apply in accordance with the BPA Billing & Cancellation Policy and Financial Consent arrangements.

8. Participation of parents and other caregivers

BPA generally considers it beneficial for children and young people to have the involvement and support of significant caregivers where appropriate and safe to do so. BPA may request information or participation from additional parents, caregivers, schools, family members or professionals where this is considered relevant to the assessment process.

Depending on the circumstances, this may include:

• Completion of questionnaires;
• Participation in interviews;
• Provision of developmental history;
• Attendance at feedback sessions;
• Provision of records; and
• Consultation regarding recommendations.

BPA recognises that involvement of all relevant parties may not always be possible, appropriate, clinically beneficial, legally permitted or safe.

Decisions regarding participation will be made on a case-by-case basis with the child’s welfare and assessment needs as the primary consideration.

9. Communication arrangements

Unless another arrangement becomes necessary or appropriate, communication regarding appointments, forms, record requests and service coordination will generally be maintained with the person who initiated the referral.

BPA may modify communication arrangements where required by:

• Court orders;
• Safety concerns;
• Consent requirements;
• Professional obligations; or
• The best interests of the child or young person.

Administrative communication arrangements do not determine who the client is and do not alter BPA’s professional obligations to the child or young person.

10. Confidentiality and access to information

BPA is committed to protecting privacy and confidentiality while complying with applicable laws and professional obligations.

Requests for access to information are assessed individually.

Factors that may be considered include:

• The child’s age and maturity;
• Whether the child is capable of providing informed consent;
• The wishes of the child or young person;
• Applicable court orders;
• Parental responsibility arrangements;
• Privacy legislation;
• Professional obligations; and
• Safety concerns.

Access to information is not automatically granted or refused simply because a person is a parent, caregiver, payer of fees or referral source.

Where legally permissible and clinically appropriate, BPA may provide summaries or alternative forms of information rather than releasing the entire clinical record.

11. Information provided by parents, schools and other parties

Assessment services frequently involve information being gathered from multiple sources. Information provided by associated parties generally forms part of the child’s clinical record and may be considered when forming assessment opinions, diagnoses, findings, recommendations and reports.

Information may be obtained from:

• Parents;
• Guardians;
• Caregivers;
• Schools;
• Educational providers;
• Medical practitioners;
• Allied health professionals;
• Funding bodies; and
• Other authorised sources.

All information on the child’s clinical record may be accessible where required or permitted by law. Therefore, parents, caregivers and other associated parties should not assume that information they provide will be recorded separately from the child’s file.

BPA cannot guarantee that information provided by one parent, caregiver or associated party will remain permanently inaccessible to another person who may have a legal right of access to the child’s records. Requests for access to information may require identity verification, review of relevant legal documents, consultation regarding privacy obligations, and consideration of the child’s welfare and best interests before a decision is made.

12. Assessment findings, reports and recommendations

Assessment findings, recommendations and reports are developed using professional judgment and the information available at the time of assessment. Participation in an assessment does not guarantee that BPA will be able to provide a diagnosis, report, recommendation, funding outcome, eligibility determination, or answer to the referral question.

BPA is not engaged to:

• Determine the truthfulness of allegations;
• Investigate family disputes;
• Resolve disagreements between parents or caregivers;
• Advocate for a parent, caregiver or other party;
• Support a particular legal, funding or administrative outcome; or
• Act as an expert witness unless expressly engaged to do so.

Parents, caregivers and associated parties may disagree with assessment findings, diagnoses, recommendations or opinions.

BPA may correct factual inaccuracies where appropriate.

However, professional opinions, findings, diagnoses and recommendations will not generally be altered solely because a parent, caregiver or associated party disagrees with them.

Court and Legal Proceedings

BPA assessment services are not designed for the primary purpose of family law, court, compensation, insurance, employment or other legal proceedings.

The existence of family law proceedings, parenting disputes, allegations, court applications or legal correspondence does not change the nature of BPA’s role or obligations.

Information contained within a BPA report may subsequently be used by others within legal proceedings. However, this does not convert the service into a forensic, expert witness, family report writer or medico-legal engagement.

13. Disagreements between parents or caregivers

Where disagreements arise between parents, caregivers or other adults involved in a child’s life, BPA may:

• Request additional information;
• Request further documentation;
• Seek additional consent;
• Modify communication arrangements;
• Delay services;
• Suspend services; or
• Decline to continue services.

BPA is not responsible for resolving disputes between family members regarding:

• Consent;
• Parenting arrangements;
• Communication arrangements;
• Access to information;
• Participation in services; or
• Decision-making authority.

Where appropriate, BPA may recommend that family members obtain legal advice, engage Family Dispute Resolution services, or seek assistance from another relevant professional.

14. Safety concerns

The safety and wellbeing of children, young people, families, staff and practitioners is a priority.

Where concerns exist regarding:

• Family violence;
• Personal violence;
• Coercive control;
• Harassment;
• Intimidation;
• Threats;
• Safety risks; or
• Risks associated with disclosure of information,

BPA may modify normal communication, information-sharing or service-delivery processes as necessary to support safety and wellbeing.

BPA may also decline, suspend or discontinue services where safety concerns cannot be adequately managed.

15. Referral suitability and service limitations

BPA may decline, postpone, suspend or discontinue services where:

• Required consent cannot be obtained;
• Relevant documentation has not been provided;
• Significant disputes prevent safe or effective service delivery;
• The referral falls outside the competence, experience or scope of practice of BPA
  practitioners;
• The referral falls outside BPA’s service model;
• Safety concerns cannot be adequately managed; or
• BPA reasonably believes that another service, practitioner or multidisciplinary team
  would be better placed to meet the child’s needs.

Where appropriate, BPA may recommend alternative services, refer clients back to the referring practitioner, or recommend obtaining additional professional or legal advice.

16. Changes to this policy

This policy may be updated from time to time to reflect changes in legislation, professional requirements, service delivery arrangements or BPA practices.

The most current version will be provided during the intake process and made available upon request.