Saepa                       Separated families policy

 

Our focus is the medical, emotional and psychological wellbeing of the child. Conflict and communication breakdown within families can limit collaboration with health care providers and may impact on optimal treatment outcomes for the child. Our aim is always to ensure that the best interests of the child/patient are always prioritised.
 

• We expect separated parents to work together respectfully and cooperatively, regarding the care of their child. 

• Decisions regarding a child’s medical treatment (e.g. to start a medication) should be made jointly by both parents wherever possible.

• It is the parents’ obligation to provide us with a copy of any relevant legal documents or court order.

• Either parent or legal guardian can

  • schedule an appointment with their child,

  • be present at their appointment

  • be sent relevant copies of their reports

           unless there is a court order restricting their involvement in their child’s care. If this is the case, please ensure you provide court orders to that show

           this is the case

• If the appointment is made by one parent, it is their responsibility to inform the other parent, invite them to attend, and provide feedback to them.

• Relevant reports will be sent to the parent or the GP of the parent who attends the appointment and it is their own responsibility to forward these to the other parent.

• We don't have the resources and time to provide separate feedback to each parent but welcome both parents to attend appointments and will provide copies of any relevant correspondence to each parent, if specifically requested.

• Payment is to be made on the day of the child’s appointment.  If there is legal agreement that requires the other parent to pay all or part of the treatment costs, it is the attending parent’s responsibility to settle the account in full and collect reimbursement on their own from the other parent.

• Where there is significant conflict, we reserve the right to request the court orders, obtain signed consent from both parents, or limit our services until the dispute has been resolved. 

• If necessary, we may discharge a family from the clinic if the conflict is disruptive to the clinic, impedes the care of the child or where the purpose of seeing the child has ceased to be the medical care and either or both parents is/are aiming at generating information for legal decision making around custody issues.

 

NB: We do NOT take referrals where the purpose of the assessment is to generate information for legal decision making around custody issues 

 
 

lies policy