"medical" Consent For A 7 Year Old

[bednobs]

my 7 year old daughter is having some counselling through the school in respect of a recent traumatic incident. Would i be able to get the notes (or a verbal report) of the practitioner, or would her counselling be confidential at 7. I understand about Gillick competence in relation to consent in children, but it doesnt seem to apply here

[Mamyalynne]

I must confess to being surprised they haven't given you any idea of what to expect but of course I have no knowledge on how this works.

[ummmm]

My kids had counselling and I had a meeting at the end of it which they told me most of the details. I'm sure some things were kept private. This was through social services family support.

[bookbinder]

Would it be possible for you to ask the practitioner?

[pixie374]

As far as I am aware, and from experience, even with young children, it is confidential. You would only be told if there was something that put her or others at risk. It is a good sign that they haven't needed to pass anything on to you...
So sorry for you and your daughter though. I hope it helps xx

[anneasquith]

At 7 years old, are you not with her during the counselling?

[bednobs]

yes, i could ask the practitioner but i just wondered what reaction i might expect

[bednobs]

no, i am not with her

[bednobs]

thank pixie - she hasnt started yet - starts this week

[pixie374]

You wouldn't be with her, it might put her off. There is no reason not to ask them for some reassurance, but this seems normal and reasonable.

[bookbinder]

The practitioner can say 'yes' or 'no', I suppose.

[pixie374]

I would just reassure your daughter, as you probably have already, that she is equally welcome to tell you what happens there, or not... but she should tell the counsellor anything she likes and it is between them alone xx

[Peter Pedant]

well here it the public advice to doctors about child protection.
which is worth a read
no I dont want to kn ow more details

first of all ask the school as you are the parent
then if they say no
say they are obliged to act in the childest interests as a matter of law and can they consider if they are?

if still no - then ask if you are named in the notes and if you are you have a claim under the data protection regs as docs with your name in, are your data

have a read of this = more MDU
https://www.themdu.com/guidance-and-advice/guides/children-whose-parents-are-separated?Region=England

and it looks as tho you have a legal right to them

[Peter Pedant]

oops missed out the first ref
which is here
https://www.themdu.com/guidance-and-advice/guides/safeguarding-children-at-risk-of-neglect-or-abuse

about a different situation but full of what is confidentail and to whom

[anneasquith]

Bednobs. I have only just seen the post about your daughter. I am so so sorry, and I have no Suitable words of comfort for you and your family . So terribly sad .

[bednobs]

thanks PP. In all honesty, i'm not all that interested in pursuing "legal" rights in regard to this. If they were to tell me they will not share the notes, i think that's fair enough (in my opinion she is probably entitled to confidentiality). I'm more interested in finding out if she had indeed mentioned anything about the incident in the sessions because she refuses to either talk or listen to me in any conversations regarding it. i would like to know whether she's talking to anyone, or being the same with others

[pixie374]

Bednobs, I believe they would at least tell you if she is opening up or not, even of not the details x

[Mamyalynne]

I hope she does confide in her Counsellor, it will be a huge relief for all - eventually.

[Peter Pedant]

// but she should tell the counsellor anything she likes and it is between them alone xx//

erm this overstates the position - if a safeguarding issue is uncovered then disclosure is reqd to the relevant persons

oh god the seven y old hasnt started
so "daughter is having some counselling through the school " is not true ,
"daughter will have some counselling through the school "
and the question is not how to get the notes which also dont exist but whether you could be there and perhaps influence things

completely changes things
ring and ask
they may well say no - again the decision should be only in the childs interests. if you are there then it is counselling mother and child innit?

I may well ask for my answers to be removed as they are about something completely different ( data that exists and how to get it)

[Peter Pedant]

you have the answer dont you?
the child doesnt want to speak to you about it

[bednobs]

pp, thanks, no need to get rid of your answer - it's useful and might be useful to someone else too. Just to be clear i DO NOT want to "influence" things. At 7 these are being presented as 1-2-1 play sessions, with the opportunity to talk if wanted