Pre Trial Therapy

Barnados Protocols

1. Prior to the case being allocated to a therapist, the Project Manager/Deputy Manager liaises with the relevant Police Officer from the Child Protection Unit. This is to establish that there are no investigative matters outstanding and that there are no other issues that might mitigate against starting therapy.

2. The Police Officer informs the Crown Prosecution Service that the child has been offered therapy and ascertains if there are any contra-indications.

3. The Police Officer confirms with the Project Manager/Deputy that there is nothing to prevent therapy beginning.

4. Therapy can start under the following conditions:

 The child receives individual sessions with the same therapist.

 The child is not involved in any group sessions prior to giving evidence

 The therapist makes immediate, factual, concise and accurate recording of the session following its cessation.

 The therapeutic process stays within the agreed protocol and is child–led, i.e. no direct questioning of the child about his/her experiences and going at the child’s pace. The focus of the work is on what the child is thinking and feeling and what behaviours result from these.

 When, or if, a child chooses to talk about his/her abusive experiences for which the perpetrator is awaiting trail, the therapist should acknowledge what the child has said and make appropriate generalised comments, but should not ask probing, investigative questions. It is recognised that child’s disclosure rarely occurs as a “one-off” event and is seen, in practice, as a process in which facts and details evolve over a period of time.

 Should a child disclose further abusive experiences, the therapist should follow the Unit’s guidance, which includes a referral under Child Protection Procedures to the Social Services Department with a view to a Joint Investigation being pursued.

 The therapist completes a Proforma after each sessions, on which the following data is included:

a. The date and location of the session
b. Name of the therapist
c. Name of anyone else present
d. Length of session
e. Confirmation whether records were made

 Just prior to the Final Hearing within Criminal Proceedings, the completed proforma should be copied and the original should be given to the Police, who will place a copy on their file and forward the original to the Crown Prosecution Service. Another copy should be held on the therapy file.