Groupwork Programme : Separate but Together
“There is always likely to be conflict in families, but what matters is how you manage the conflict so that family life is experienced as harmonious over time.”
(Neale & Flowerdew, Parent Problems 2 – looking back at our parents divorce:
– University of Leeds)
Separate but Together is a new groupwork programme provided by JLS Consultancy for adults involved in contested child residence/contact applications. This is an interactive programme providing experiential learning situations, but does not provide any mediation between individual parties, rather it is designed to assist in resolution of conflict between parties in a constructive and timely way.
In respect of the children’s interests, use of the programme is likely to be less intrusive than formal enquiries into their circumstances at a time of stress and disruption in their lives. The programme also, we believe, acts to protect children from adult worries and concerns, by placing the responsibility firmly with their parents.
Equally it is our belief that the dynamic of a groupwork programme is most effective in reducing Court time and funding spent on extensive enquiries into residence and contact applications in private law proceedings (S8 Children Act 1989).
The facilitators for this programme believe that it is possible for people to make positive changes in their lives and to change the ways in which they live them. We also believe that the skills and strategies for so doing can be learned and that all individuals have the right and capacity for such learning and therefore for making changes. The facilitators encourage participants to take responsibility for what they are learning and how to implement what has been learned.
The programme is designed to assist parents in considering:
- Child development
- The impact of separation and loss upon the children
- How the adults’ interpersonal relationships impact on the children concerned
- Working towards the ability to place the needs of their children before their own needs
- Development of strategies to facilitate agreed levels of contact effectively and without disruption for the children.
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