Family Early Help
What is Parental Conflict?
There are some clear distinctions between harmful parental conflict and domestic abuse although they might not appear obvious. This tool from CAFCASS can help you determine which situation a family may be experiencing, and to help support your rationale and decision making. Here is a link to the tool:
Distinguishing Harmful Conflict vs Domestic Abuse Tool
Parental Relationships Spectrum
This is another tool from the Stefanou Foundation to help us think about parents relationships, and what sort of support might best fit their needs. You can download it from the link below, or right-click on the picture to save it:
https://www.stefanoufoundation.org/post/parental-relationships-spectrum-a-new-tool-for-professionals
Harmful Conflict Guide
This Guide from CAFCASS is a useful information resource to help you think about how you might help parents experiencing conflict, whether in divorce proceedings, court proceedings or in general life situations.
CAFCASS Harmful Conflict Guide
Dispute Resolution Techniques
CAFCASS also have a helpful resource to support us in approaching dispute resolution
CAFCASS Dispute Resolution Skills and Techniques sheet
Short Film About Parental Confllict
Westminster Council (one of our partners in the Building Stronger Families consortia) have made a short film helping to explain parental conflict. You can find it here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UGL4efA0xk&feature=youtu.be
CAFCASS Parent Hub for Separated Parents
New online resources for parents who have separated and are looking for advice and guidance on co-parenting, with lots of online tools, programmes and services
https::/cafcass.clickrelationships.org/what-is-co-parent-hub/
Mediation Services for Separated Parents
During mediation an independent, professionally trained mediator helps a couple work out an agreement about issues such as:
- arrangements for children after a break up (sometimes called residence or contact);
- child maintenance payments;
- finances (for example, what to do with your house, savings, pension, debts).
Many people find that mediation is quicker, less stressful and less expensive than going to court (and if the couple do want to go to court, the judge will usually ask them to consider mediation first).
Mediation is free for people who qualify for legal aid. More information here
https://www.cafcass.gov.uk/grown-ups/parents-and-carers/divorce-and-separation/family-mediation/
You can find local mediators in Camden on this link:
https://www.familymediationcouncil.org.uk/find-local-mediator/?pc=N1C+4AG&di=5&fn=&ln=&urn=&la=1
Tavistock Relationships for separated parents/parents in conflict and children
This service from Tavistock Relationships offers free co-parenting psychotherapy to conflicted separated parents, of up to 12 sessions, where there is one or more child over the age of ten.
At least one of those children should be willing to try an online weekly peer support service run by Fitzrovia Youth in Action for children whose parents have separated (see details below). The children will be in groups with other young people in similar situations and will work on building self-esteem, easing feelings of isolation and learn communication and peer support skills.
All work is done virtually by Zoom.
Initially both parents are offered individual assessment sessions with experienced therapists, to see if co-working with their ex-partner is possible and to try to begin to establish a shared co-parenting agenda, thinking about the impact of their conflict on their children.
Parents can self-refer by calling to register some basic contact details. We will then send them a confidential questionnaire to complete before we arrange appointments for initial consultations.
If you would prefer to refer them yourself, please could you send the following information to [email protected] :
- Names
- Date of Birth
- Postal Address
- Email Address
- Phone Number
- Names and ages of children
- GP Name and Practice
Peer Support for Young People Affected by Parental Conflict or Separation
FYA have started a peer mentoring programme for young people affected by parental conflict. Run by their amazing young peer mentors, and over Zoom. More info below (right click to save each image), and if young people would like to participate there is an Office 365 form to complete here or you can call David at FYA to get more information 020 7388 7399 or email [email protected]
