family relationship centre gold coast

2. FRC Gold Coast - Centacare Brisbane 2 FAMILY RELATIONSHIP CENTREGOLD COAST ACRIMONY, ALLIANCE AND CHLD FOCUS – MEASURING THE IMPACT ON FDR OUTCOMES Kerry Pearmain Catherine Fitch

3. FRC Gold Coast - Centacare Brisbane 3 Action Research 12 month data collected as part of Action Research (n=360) Measurement of variables which are more likely to impact FDR outcome Use of information collected as part of intake and assessment to assess level of acrimony, parental alliance and child focus for both parties Client feedback (FRSP) Independent client survey on client attitude to FDR session and FRC services generally

4. FRC Gold Coast - Centacare Brisbane 4 Reflective Process Post FDR reflection by practitioner to assess shift in acrimony, parental alliance and child focus Post FDR reflection by practitioner to assess practitioner inputs to FDR outcome Client feedback is monitored daily

5. FRC Gold Coast - Centacare Brisbane 5 Clinical Assessment (Intake) Measuring Acrimony Mismatch of beliefs and values History of family violence/abuse/conflict Financial matters impacting parenting relationship Parental alienation on key issues (positional) History of litigation/intention to litigate Trust in each other to do the right thing

6. FRC Gold Coast - Centacare Brisbane 6 Clinical Assessment (Intake)Measuring Parental Alliance Supportive of each other’s parenting style Cooperation on children seeing other parent Jointly make decisions on child’s needs Cooperation on children’s needs Communicate effectively on children’s needs

7. FRC Gold Coast - Centacare Brisbane 7 Clinical Assessment (Intake)Measuring Child Focus Parent lifestyle choices negatively impact children Parent able to put child’s needs first Parent supports child through separation Parent using child to further own needs Parent keeps adult matters away from child Parent fosters other parent relationship

8. FRC Gold Coast - Centacare Brisbane 8 Measuring Client Outcomes Signed Parenting Plans Agreements Reached (unsigned) No Agreements Request for Certificates post FDR

9. FRC Gold Coast - Centacare Brisbane 9 Measuring ShiftAcrimony, Alliance, Child Focus Reflection post FDR by practitioner against original assessment (acrimony, alliance, child focus) Assessment of variables which influenced the FDR outcome (child inclusive, referral support, history of family abuse, parent concerns re child safety)

10. FRC Gold Coast - Centacare Brisbane 10 Measuring our own inputs Self assessment by practitioner of own skills, knowledge, values which impacted outcome Intake and assessment process identified all relevant issues and our pre planning process for FDR session identified relevant issues Measuring client satisfaction pre FDR and post FDR

11. FRC Gold Coast - Centacare Brisbane 11 FDR Outcomes 69% sign parenting plans (overall) 15% Reach agreement (unsigned) 16% No agreement 16% Request a certificate post FDR

12. FRC Gold Coast - Centacare Brisbane 12 91% commence with med to high level of acrimony 53% improve level of acrimony during FDR Where acrimony improves, agreements more likely Where acrimony does not improve agreement rates reduce significantly

13. FRC Gold Coast - Centacare Brisbane 13 Shift in Parental AllianceClinical Assessment 90% commence with low to medium parental alliance 58% improve parental alliance during FDR process Where parental alliance improved, agreement rates increase Where parental alliance does not improve agreements less likely

14. FRC Gold Coast - Centacare Brisbane 14 Child FocusClinical Assessment 77% present with medium to low child focus 66% made a positive shift during FDR Where child focus improves, agreements more likely Where no improvement in child focus, agreement less likely

15. FRC Gold Coast - Centacare Brisbane 15 Child Inclusive FDR 27% of cases were identified by FDRP as possibly benefiting from child inclusive practice Out of these cases, 31 cases proceeded to CIP Agreements reached in 85% of CIP - only one case requested a certificate Two thirds of cases assessed as low child focus prior to CIP - 80% made a positive shift in child focus post FDR.

16. FRC Gold Coast - Centacare Brisbane 16 Assessment and Referral 34% of party A’s have accepted referral support 30% of party B’s have accepted referral support Small correlation between referrals made and reduction in acrimony

17. FRC Gold Coast - Centacare Brisbane 17 Assessment and FDR Planning When planned FDR strategies need to be changed during the FDR session, agreement less likely When intake does not identify all relevant issues, agreement less likely

18. FRC Gold Coast - Centacare Brisbane 18 Domestic Violence Where DV history, less likely to reach agreement When acrimony is reduced for DV cases during FDR process, more likely to reach agreement Parental child safety concerns double compared to cases where no DV history is present Requests for certificates double when DV and parent child safety concerns both present (trust issues)

19. FRC Gold Coast - Centacare Brisbane 19 FDRP skills When FDRP skills are challenged, client outcomes impacted FDRP skills challenged yet 44% of cases still achieved reduced acrimony Lower level of agreement and more requests for certificates

20. FRC Gold Coast - Centacare Brisbane 20 Measuring Client Satisfaction At group session, Party A’s more likely to complete client feedback sheets At completion of FDR, Party A and Party B complete feedback at similar rates and with same level of positiveness Whilst still positive, 11% request a certificate post FDR 6% of parties provided negative post FDR feedback (both A and B combined). Of those, 30% requested a certificate (n=10)

21. FRC Gold Coast - Centacare Brisbane 21 Independent Client Survey - Goals What practitioner skills are needed to accommodate presenting client issues How to support clients achieve their goals when acrimony and parental agreement are significant contributing factors Semi structured interview process

22. FRC Gold Coast - Centacare Brisbane 22 Independent SurveyClient Satisfaction (n=39) 75% stated they would not have reached agreement without mediation support 81% of participants were very positive about mediator’s skills Use of Shuttle mediation assisted when parties in high conflict 26% believed hostile relationship between parents contributed negatively to mediation outcome

23. FRC Gold Coast - Centacare Brisbane 23 Independent SurveyClient view of acrimony Ex partner stubborn – nothing could be done Mediator maintained child focus – made other party listen and explain their irrational statements “Felt safe even though other party yelling and screaming” “Other party always a drama” “You can negotiate with terrorists but not with my ex…”

24. FRC Gold Coast - Centacare Brisbane 24 What we have learnt Practitioner skills in managing high conflict impact client outcomes When DV history and parent child safety concerns present, more likely case will proceed to court Child Inclusive Practice assists with improved child focus Thorough assessment and identification of relevant issues for mediator improves FDR outcomes

25. FRC Gold Coast - Centacare Brisbane 25 What we have learnt Important to assist parents to have realistic expectations of outcome before going into FDR session Reduction in client conflict improves client satisfaction Good understanding by FDRP of basis of conflict and sound planning for FDR will improve client outcomes Formal reflection processes assist with FDR process improvement and client outcomes