HOW TO STRUCTURE A CONSULTATION
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Let everyone around the table introduce themselves, summarize what has happened, previous contact, and implemented measures from every agency. Make concerns known.
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Discuss freely: “What is best for the child/adolescent”?
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What can my agency do for the child/adolescent?
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Draw up a safety plan for different arenas (school, home, spare time)
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Divide responsibilities and tasks between the agencies
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The person in charge of the meeting is responsible for calling a follow-up meeting – within 3 weeks usually – to ensure everyone has done their part, and discuss the road ahead. It is important that guardians are involved in the multidisciplinary cooperative work.
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«Disclosure of harmful sexual behaviour requires immediate reaction from adults.»
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In this recording you will hear Helle Kleive, psychology specialist at Resource unit V27/Betanien Bergen, speak more about Consultations.
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A Consultation is a meeting between every authority responsible for – or who should be responsible for – the young adult or child displaying inappropriate sexual behaviour. The point is for everyone to come together and make a plan of action. What do we do with 15-year-old Ole after he has displayed problematic sexual behaviour? The Consultation is clearly structured into 4 bullet points, as its goal is to prevent the chaos that often occurs in these situations. Number 1 says to do an introduction of every authority present, and give an update on the case. What is known about the case, about Ole, which measures have been implemented, what are the concerns – put everything on the table.
It is also incredibly important to let everyone around the table speak without interruption. Let them disclose what they know about the case. When everyone at the table has spoken and the severity of the situation is known, it’s time for bullet point number 2: what is best for Ole? Without being required to do anything or say “now you do this things, and you do that”, just discuss what is the best course of action for the child. Bullet point number 3 is: what does my agency offer, and what can and will I contribute in this case. This way the workload is distributed somewhat. Point 4 is finding a time and place to hold the next meeting.
Illustration: Jens A. Larsen Aas