Professor Malcolm MacLachlan:

I am happy to answer and I thank the Vice Chairman for the questions. Interventions should be provided by professionally trained therapists. Again, however, we are trying to be consistent with the UNCRPD. Many years ago, when I trained in psychology, there was a model whereby if a child had a problem, her or she would come into a clinic. I would sit in a room with him or her and have an intervention. We have realised that this is not the best way to do things; the best way to do things is for the clinician to go to the child, to work in the community and to work with the family of the child.

The parents have knowledge that clinicians do not have. It should never be the case that families feel that this is just being handed over to them, but that parents are key interveners in their children's lives. We need to get the balance right. Parents need to feel supported and that there is a distinct intervention provided by the therapist. That intervention has to overlap with what the parents can do. The therapists will be there for a very short time and then disappear. The fidelity of implementing what has been suggested lies in respecting the opportunities that parents have to interact with the child, which the therapist does not have. It should not feel like handing over but like collaboration.