mothers have their children court-appointed “expert psychologists” were taken away who unregulated and do not have the necessary qualifications, Association of UK clinical psychologists warn.
The only psychologists subject to regulation in UK registered with Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC), although experts who no need qualify for registration can still be assigned within the law framework at the discretion of Courts. However, there is growing concern that some experts who fall into this category, change lives decisions about families and young children based on on what the ACP-UK called “misdiagnosis”.
Now the investigation Observer raises questions about what the chair of the organization described as a “scandal place behind closed doors” in what are some parents in England and Wales – more often, but not always, mothers with no previous bad record undress of All contacts with their children being accused of “parental alienation” or PA.
Details of these cases are rare made public due to strict rules about reporting on family litigation though steps taken to increase transparency in in family courts.
No legal definition of heatedly disputed parental alienation term. The Child and Family Courts Advice and Support Service describes this as “undue resistance or hostility on the part of the child towards one parent how result of psychological manipulation of others. Supporters of PA say it’s widespread problem and form of child abuse. But critics claim that in in some cases it is used as a judicial tool or bargaining chip card silence accusations of domestic violence.
They are especially concerned about non-regulated experts who specialize in PA and appointed by the courts in which are often sharp and costly private family Proceedings on arrangements for contact with children. “These cases are extremely complex, and what is happening on is one of the most scandalous things I have ever encountered,” said Professor Mike Wang, chairman of ACP-UK board of directors.
In an interview with in Observer, he said: “The organization is aware of unregulated experts drawing conclusions of so-called parental alienation and infliction of colossal harm. I have seen children taken away force of state on the foundation of PA.
“But what public needs to know in what is international consensus that the evidence base on parental alienation is not strong enough to decisions about arrangements for contact with children.
Not all of those who call themselves as “PA experts” or who involved in parental alienation cases are not regulated. But Wang says: “What do I take issue with cohort of experts who I believe that they make excessive claims about their qualifications, while operating under vague or fake titles that are not secure and could be misleading as to level or latitude of them experience”.
Register with HCPC, psychologists should be qualified Keep one of nine designated titles protected by law, such as forensic psychologist or clinical psychologist. “My view this is family courts should appoint only regulated experts”, says wang, who campaigning for legislation protecting the title of psychologist.
Joint guidelines from the Family Justice Council and the British Psychological Society state that the courts should “to expect that all psychologists based in UK provides evidence in in family proceedings are governed by the HCPC and/or … have a charter membership with BPS”.
Guidelines updated in May include new the line that says “absence of understanding and awareness led to use of various titles in in family court system. Such names have no particular meaning and are not protected or regulated by the HCPC.” These include “child psychologist” and “assessment psychologist”. ACP-UK first warned about illegal experts who could result in “harming public” in statement published in December. It states that only a practicing psychologist is registered. with An HCPC such as a clinical psychologist may give make a diagnosis or make recommendations for therapeutic interventions, adding: “ACP-UK knows of several occasions in what “expert psychologists” who not registered with HCPC, offered incorrect diagnoses and made recommendations for children to be removed from mothers…”
Separate President of The Family Department, Sir Andrew Macfarlane, issued a memorandum last October, Experts in family courts. He noted “pseudo-science which is not based on any established body of knowledge will be inadmissible in in family court”.
McFarlane referred back to the memo in speech in the same month: “Where issue of parental alienation is raised and it is proposed to the court that the expert should be instructed, the court should exercise caution in authorizing such training only if the individual expert is suitably qualified.”
According to ACP-UK, academic psychologist who not regulated, it may be useful for the court to consider specific issues within its competence. area of expertise, but should should not be used to evaluate people, make diagnoses, or make recommendations for therapy. When there are accusations of alienation, the PA examiner may tell the court that the child or children to be removed from “alienation” parent before parent passed the course of costly therapy, sometimes supervised by this specialist.
Van says: “We concerned there is group of people referring to their preferred therapists with whom they work. We know these people charge thousands of pounds for the vulnerable parents who are left pay the bill.”
There were wider concerns about this issue. Last month, the Family Justice Council released interim guidance. on expert witnesses in cases where there is suspicion of alienating behavior and conflicts of interest. It says: “Judgment should be extremely careful when asked to review evaluation and treatment packages offered by the same or related providers.”
The Family Justice Council recently established a working group Response to accusations of Alienating behavior.
representative for the court said it was necessary for to all judges complete preparation in domestic violence. They are added: “Welfare of child above all remains in the heart of family trial. Every day family the judges are dealing with a little of the most complex and sensitive issues.
Parental Alienation UK said: “We welcome any reasonable rigor that is introduced into the litigation process against experts. in proceedings involving children. It can only be beneficial of involved, especially children”.
