Tel: 01392 454 940 | Fax: 01392 491 658 help@devonfamilysolutions.co.uk | www.devonfamilysolutions.co.uk Dear %%Full Name%%, Welcome to the January edition of the Devon Family Solutions Newsletter, and a Happy New Year to you all. Just a reminder that as at 1st January 2010 we are obliged to levy VAT on mediation services at the restored 17.5% rate. We do our best to ensure that cost issues are discussed fully with clients at the initial assessment meeting, and the various charges fully explained. Clients are also informed of the cost per session when the first mediation session is booked. However, there will be some clients who started mediations prior to the VAT increase who will find that the quoted rate is no longer accurate. We would like to reassure clients that our basic charges have been held at 2009 rates and that the increased cost to clients is solely due to the increased VAT. Training Event There are still a few places available for our first training event of 2010, which will be held at DFSL offices in Exeter on Wednesday 20th January from 4-6pm. Clinical Psychologist Joe Miller will lead a session entitled “Reconceptualising Masculinity in Family Breakdown? Working with men in the context of Separation”. Joe is an expert in men’s mental health issues following separation, and this promises to be a highly informative session. The cost is £40+ VAT, and 2 Law Society/Bar Council CPD points are available. If you would like to attend, please contact Adrienne Cox coxbowden@onetel.com to book your place or via the DFSL offices in Exeter. Watch this space for details of further events in the coming year. Topic of the Month - Public funding and mediation We’ve been asked to remind clients that student loans and the like are treated as income for the purposes of the public funding assessment, and will need to be taken into account in deciding whether clients qualify for free mediation. Where a client qualifies for free mediation, this remains valid for 3 months. If mediation is begun within this time, it continues to be valid for up to 3 months after the last mediation session. Occasionally there may be a gap of more than 3 months between sessions. If clients are legally aided, a further intake session will be required, and a fresh legal aid assessment carried out. It is often convenient to carry out this brief assessment immediately before the start of the mediation session; however, it is important that clients are aware that the session cannot then be cancelled if it appears that they are no longer eligible for legal aid, but will need to go ahead on a privately paying basis. If clients are in any doubt as to whether they will be eligible for free mediation, and do not wish to pay privately, then we would encourage you to contact our offices to discuss with our administrators whether a separate intake session would be appropriate. Following an initial assessment meeting where mediation has been deemed unsuitable, DFSL will issue an App7 form to clients or solicitors. The App7 is also valid for 3 months. Our understanding is that if court proceedings become necessary, so that public funding is sought more than 3 months after an App7 is issued, then in most cases, a further initial assessment meeting with a mediator will be required if a further App7 is required. Our Administrators are Ruth Hartley and Jackie Gillgan who are always happy to help with any queries you may have. They are based at our Exeter office and can be contacted on 01392 454940. Directions Situated directly opposite King William Street car park in Longbrook Street, just a few minutes walk from Exeter City Centre and close to transport links Click for map Contact Details Suite 3 First Floor, Hampton House, 23 Longbrook Street, Exeter, EX4 6AB Tel: 01392 454 940 | Fax: 01392 491 658 help@devonfamilysolutions.co.uk | www.devonfamilysolutions.co.uk If you have received this email in error, please accept our apologies. If you do not wish to receive further emails please click unsubscribe