DiAmond
Children and Young People
Listening Ear developed DiAmond, its dedicated therapeutic pathway for children and young people affected by domestic abuse in the home in 2012. Since then, we have trained over 300 children and young people’s professionals in this pathway (which is supported by a published workbook/ toolkit) and completed therapy with 436 children and young people.
DiAmond normally offers 1:1 counselling in schools or colleges for children and young people from Knowsley, Wirral and St Helens who are affected by Domestic Abuse. This service is funded by each of the Local Authorities on behalf of the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Merseyside.
Due to social distancing requirements, 1:1 counselling is now being offered via phone or video link.
When we accept a DiAmond referral, we arrange a telephone assessment initially with the parent or Carer of the child. This assessment is used to understand the child’s issues in more depth. Clinically, we are assessing whether DiAmond is a suitable service for the individual needs of the child and whether group or 1:1 support is to be offered. This decision is made by a clinical expert and cannot be requested.
Following assessment, we will arrange 1:1 counselling sessions to take place in your child’s school (in term time) or in our centres in Whiston or Rock Ferry during school Summer holidays. Group sessions are held in our Whiston Centre. Children and young people are typically offered six counselling sessions as part of the pathway.
