Separated Care-Giver Policy
At Western Kids Health, our utmost priority is the holistic wellbeing of the children we serve, encompassing their physical, emotional, and psychological needs. We recognise that some of the children we see come from separated families. Whilst for some separated families this is not an issue, we do recognise that for others conflicts and breakdowns in communication can hinder collaborative healthcare and impact the child’s optimal treatment outcomes. This policy outlines our Practice’s philosophy and follows the Family Law Act 1975 to ensure that the best interests of our patients are always prioritised by providing procedures for interacting with separated caregivers. Western Kids Health is committed to working collaboratively with families to ensure that all aspects of the child’s care are managed respectfully and effectively.
Legal documentation
Provision of legal documents:
- Caregivers are required to provide any relevant legal documents or court orders pertaining to the child’s care.
- These documents will guide our communication and decision-making processes. Without the provision of relevant legal documents/court orders, Western Kids Health will not be able to provide care to the child.
- In the absence of legal documentation, both caregivers will be considered to have equal rights to access information about their child’s care.
Care-giver cooperation and decision-making
- Respectful collaboration: We expect separated caregivers to work together respectfully and cooperatively regarding the care of their child. Major decisions concerning the child’s treatment, such as starting a new therapy program, should be made jointly whenever possible.
- Joint initial appointment: Western Kids Health requests both parents to attend the initial appointment (either in person or via telehealth), unless there is a court order restricting one parent’s involvement. This ensures both parties are informed and involved from the beginning of the child’s care.
Communication with caregivers
- Equal access to information: If there is no court orders or legal documents stating otherwise, both caregivers have equal rights to access information regarding their child’s care at Western Kids Health.
Confidentiality
- All therapy information will be kept strictly confidential. Both care-givers are allowed to access therapeutic information unless otherwise authorised by a court order.
- Western Kids Health is committed to maintaining the privacy of all families and will not disclose information to third parties without explicit consent, except where required by law.
Conflict resolution and service limitations
- In cases of significant conflict between care-givers, Western Kids Health reserves the right to request court orders, obtain signed consent from both care-givers, or limit our services until disputes are resolved.
- If the conflict disrupts the clinic’s operations or negatively impacts the child’s care, Western Kids Health reserves the right to discharge the family from our services to maintain a safe and supportive environment for all clients. Western Kids Health will always endeavour to provide alternative care options if the therapeutic relationship with a family is ceased due to the above.
All care-givers must read and understanding this policy at the start of their child’s treatment. A signed acknowledgment form will be kept on file.
