What is the Programme?
The Separated Parents Information Programme, or SPIP, is a family programme that has been established for parents who are experiencing a separation. It gives them some guidance and skills of how to deal with turbulent breakups when children are involved. The main aim of the course is that the parents will learn how to put their children as their foremost priority. This can make a time of conflict a lot less stressful for the children.
As with any breakup, this will evoke a multitude of emotions and sometimes it can be hard to hide this from children in your care. The programme aims to teach parents how to prevent these negative emotions from being absorbed by the children.any influence to the way they may think about the breakup, or the other parent involved.
Children may often feel very confused during a family separation. Guiding children during this period can really shape their relationships in the future. Therefore this programme is an important avenue for parents to learn these invaluable skills and put them into practice.
How to Access the Programme?
There are a number of ways in which you can access the Programme. One way to access it is when making an application within the family court. Within this hearing the court may order the parents to attend the programme to promote safe contact with the children. Cafcass, the children and family court service, will usually carry out an assessment to advise the court whether the programme is suitable for you. Any court or Cafcass cases will usually not be charged for attending the programme.
Another route to accessing the programme is referral from Cafcass themselves. This is often the best way to access the programme, especially if your hearing in family court is not scheduled for anytime in the near future. The Cafcass referral is also voluntary unlike the court order.
A parent can actually choose to attend the programmes themselves without any outside encouragement, however this will likely come with a small charge. It is important to consider that although you may have to pay for the Programme it’s very beneficial. The course will provide invaluable skills that really will aid your child through a very stressful period of their lives. Entering the programme also shows the courts that you can take initiative and have your child’s best interest at heart.
What will the Programme consist of?
The level of commitment to the course is fairly small. The Programme consists of one four-hour session or two sessions that will last two hours each. The session operates within small groups of parents that will be in your local area as the course has locations all around the country.
The course has become even more accessible over the past years as the Programme is now available online. The operating hours are also fairly flexible to allow parents from any work commitments to also attend. Another advantage of the course is that if your ex-partner is particularly hostile, you do not have to attend the session together as they run at different times.
The tasks in the course include activities such as listening to speakers, participating in group workshops and writing tasks. Parents will learn how their actions and words can affect the way the children experience the breakup and how it will affect their emotional wellbeing. This includes methods in which the parents can effectively talk and communicate to the children. Allowing them to explain the breakup, whilst trying to maintain positivity and neutrality between parents.
The course also provides ways in which parents communicate with one another to mitigate any hostility that could arise. This can be especially useful around issues such as arranging child contact. The programme also gives parents the opportunity to explore and express their own emotional and mental wellbeing. It teaches them how to deal with these experiences in a non-toxic way and prevent any negative effects on the wellbeing of the children.
The course educates parents on the importance of utilising their support networks such as friends and family to reduce the stress upon themselves. This also includes methods in which they can use services such as councillors and mediation if they feel they need the extra support.
Contacting Us
Essentially the course is all about the perception of the children during a breakup. As well as learning how to make the separation of the child as easy as possible. If you feel this is something that appears to you, don’t hesitate to contact us at Maria Fogg Family Law solicitors. We are specialists in this area of law and we are an experienced team.
