Our Values

At the CDN we have a set of written values to guide how individual clinicians work with families and children, and also to guide how different clinicians from different professional backgrounds work together.

  1. Children. The CDN has a responsibility first and foremost to the children it sees. To the very best of our ability we strive to achieve the optimal developmental and mental health outcomes for these children. Where appropriate, this is reflected in strategies to build children’s capacity to understand and manage themselves.

  2. Families. The CDN is responsible to the families of the children it sees. We recognise the family as the primary environment in which each child’s development and mental health are nurtured. This is reflected in clinical practices that support and empower the family with knowledge and skills.

  3. The child’s world. The CDN has a responsibility to those involved in the child’s world. We recognise that each child has their own ecology, and that their development and mental health is influenced by many agencies such as schools and other professionals involved. This is reflected in strategies intended to facilitate the exchange of information, to build understanding, and improve collaboration amongst these agencies towards the identification and achievement of unified goals for each child.

  4. The developmental journey. The CDN accepts a level of responsibility for time beyond that of direct clinical involvement. We recognise that children’s development and mental health continues beyond the period of time we are involved in their care. As a result, our clinical strategies are designed to optimise outcomes for the child in the long term as well as within the period of time we are directly involved.

  5. A private relationship. The CDN is responsible to service providers within its environment. It allows the delivery of clinical services within a private relationship between families and service providers, and with minimal intercession of organisational restraints. Working in a private health care environment, it is recognised that reasonable remuneration is necessary to ensure financial viability and reasonable profit for service providers. Where possible, the CDN works to build professional development and support for service providers.