Court and Legal Services

ABE Interviews

“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you”
– Maya Angelou
I know why the caged bird sings

We are trained in the use of and have experience of undertaking ABE interviews with young children and also children and young people with developmental delay.

Achieving Best Evidence (ABE) is guidance that ‘describes good practice in interviewing vulnerable and intimidated witnesses, both adults and children, in order to enable them to give their best evidence in criminal proceedings.’ ‘This document replaces the 1992 memorandum of good practice on video recorded interviews for child witnesses in criminal proceedings’ (HO).

Court Mandated Assessments

“Sometimes the hardest thing and the right thing are the same”
– The Fray

Tiptoes child therapy services have extensive experience of working closely with the courts, solicitors, barristers and children’s guardians. Both directors have worked within the framework of court processes in various settings as case work managers in local authorities, as independent social work assessors and expert witnesses. There are three qualified therapists who are also qualified social workers. In addition, there are three qualified therapists who are also qualified teachers.

Assessments are completed in accordance with the instruction from the court and completed within the directed timescales. The service provides attendance at professionals’ meetings, reviews, meetings with advocates and attendance to give evidence in court in both private and public law proceedings. Assessments may be during care proceedings where children are subject to interim care orders and the long-term care plan requires information about therapeutic need or where a rehabilitation home plan is being considered. Assessments include; parenting assessments, Together or Apart assessments, assessments of therapeutic need. please see social work services for summary of assessments that Tiptoes Child Therapy Services provide.

Pre (and through) Trial Therapy

“My work is to be honest. My work is to try to think clearly, then have the courage to make sure that what I say is the truth”.
– Maya Angelou

We have considerable experience in undertaking therapy before and during criminal, family and private proceedings. We are happy to liaise with all professional parties to ensure that proposed therapeutic interventions do not adversely affect the proceedings. The child or young person’s therapy is subject to and dependent on confidentiality. However, our levels of professional transparency have enabled us to feedback to the courts where necessary without breaking confidentiality.