Responding to the newly-published report by the Family Solutions Group, What about me? Reframing Support for Families following Parental Separation, Jane Robey, CEO of National Family Mediation, said:
“We hope this report will be a landmark in the acceleration of culture change that is needed around the behaviour and attitudes of separating parents.
“This focuses around parents putting their gripes about each other to one side, and work like grown-ups to minimise the trauma for themselves, and especially for their children.
“Some positive themes permeate the report: giving children more of a say in their own futures when their parents separate, and educating parents to put children’s interests first rather than attempting a ‘victory’ over their ex when issues of childcare are at stake.
“We also trust culture change will be wind-assisted by new legislation coming into force in 2021 to remove the blame game from the divorce process.
“Strengthening the opportunity for children to be included more routinely in family mediation makes a clear statement to parents that their children have rights too. It can also help parents maintain focus on their children’s needs instead of their feuds and battles at this pivotal time.
“Maintaining the compulsory MIAM and ensuring better processes for checking that both parents have attended will send a very clear message about expectation of behaviour before going to court. It cannot come too soon.
“The report acknowledges that courts are ideally placed to drive the culture change.
“The recommendations are clear, and can easily be implemented at no additional taxpayer cost.
“Time will tell what tangible action this important report prompts.”
The report is available using this link
