Child Arrangements Mediation.
Research indicates that parents living apart does not inherently harm children. Experts agree that children cope with separation well, provided their parents do, too. Ultimately, it is adult conflict that damages children
Our professional family mediation services help parents to focus on the children and how conflict can feel for them.
With this in mind we can help you to make arrangements for the children following separation. This can be arrangements regarding contact, maintenance, holidays, schooling etc.
Parenting Plans
A parenting plan is a plan that encourages co-parenting. It is a plan that looks at the arrangements for the children regarding contact, schooling, holidays, decision making and much more.
The process also improves communication and trust, allowing the family to resolve future issues with minimal emotional impact.
The parenting plan looks at similar issues that a child arrangements order in court might look at, but isn’t legally binding. Parents do have the option to make the plan legally binding if they wish to (*additional charges apply for legally binding order). Click HERE to visit cafcass.gov.uk and learn more about parenting plans.
Separated Parenting Courses (SPIP)
Both parents attend the 4-hour Separated Parenting Programme on separate days.
It looks at the impact of conflict on children through group discussions, observations and role play. The course also focuses on how to improve communication and on the emotional impact of separation.
This can be a really useful course when combined with child mediation services.
Listening to Young People
The voice of the child is becoming more important in mediation.
We understand that while children do not make the final decisions, they still want to share their thoughts and feelings.
Our separation mediation service operates independently of court proceedings. It provides parents with the opportunity to understand how separation affects their children.
The service is confidential accept for the usual safe guarding guidelines. This means that we only feed back to parents what the children allow. Even if feedback isn’t permitted this might be the first time your child has spoken to anyone about how they are feeling.
Introducing New partners
Introducing a new partner can be one of the biggest concerns separated parents have.
Amity Mediation offers information on what needs to be considered when looking to introduce new partners. We offer a joint meeting between parents and new partners to help you to put some plans in place on how to do this with the least emotional impact on the family as a whole.