Separated Parents Information Programme

Please note the Separated Parents Information Programme has been replaced by Planning Together for Children. If you have made the decision to separate or divorce, National Family Mediation are still able to help; many parents who took part in the Separated Parents Information Programme undertook mediation to settle issues, including parenting, property and finance matters as it is proven to be quicker, cheaper and much less stressful than going through the courts.

Click here to find out more about family mediation and how it could help you

Or click here to book an appointment with a family mediator today. 

For more information on Planning Together For Children please visit the Cafcass website. 

A rallying cry has been issued to all professionals working with family breakdown by the CEO of England and Wales’ largest provider of family mediation.

National Family Mediation’s Jane Robey says the Separated Parents Information Programme (SPIP) is an incredibly influential tool, helping those who attend to learn more about the challenges of post-separation parenting, with a particular focus on the perspective and needs of their children.

In a new article for Family Law, she explains how the SPIP works, and outlines its many benefits.

“It’s true to say that participants often find the prospect of attending an inconvenient nuisance at first,” she says, “but most who attend say they find it very helpful.”

She explains that the aim of the SPIP is to help separated parents:

  • Look at the journey they are on
  • Focus on what children feel and need
  • Focus on moving forward, and next steps

“The aim is to ensure adults put their children first when they are separating, despite what is often an ongoing dispute with their ex. It helps equip them with key principles of managing conflict and difficulties, including how to put these into practice in their own unique situation. It empowers participants to help themselves and, crucially, to help their kids.

“Time and again we hear parents say ‘if only we had known about this sooner’.”

She concludes with a rallying call to all those working in family breakdown “to act sooner rather than later. Help the families you work with achieve better outcomes for themselves and their children. Think ‘Mediation’ and ‘SPIP’ first, not last as is too often the case with the court process.

“This way we can help more families resolve their separation more quickly and amicably – and prevent the revolving door of contact applications to court.”

  • Focus on what children feel and need
  • Focus on moving forward, and next steps

“The aim is to ensure adults put their children first when they are separating, despite what is often an ongoing dispute with their ex. It helps equip them with key principles of managing conflict and difficulties, including how to put these into practice in their own unique situation. It empowers participants to help themselves and, crucially, to help their kids.

“Time and again we hear parents say ‘if only we had known about this sooner’.”

She concludes with a rallying call to all those working in family breakdown “to act sooner rather than later. Help the families you work with achieve better outcomes for themselves and their children. Think ‘Mediation’ and ‘SPIP’ first, not last as is too often the case with the court process.

“This way we can help more families resolve their separation more quickly and amicably – and prevent the revolving door of contact applications to court.”

You can read the article in full here 

Click here to find out more about family mediation and how it could help you

Or click here to book an appointment with a family mediator today.