What is the dialogue process?
If you, your parents and the child welfare service all consent, the tribunal can invite you to a dialogue meeting where you can discuss the case and try to find a solution. A tribunal chair and an expert from the tribunal will also be there to help you in the discussion. You, your parents and the child welfare service will talk about what is important to you, how you feel, and what you would like to happen going forward.
What can a lawyer do for you?
You have the right to have your own lawyer accompany you to the dialogue meeting. Your lawyer will help you to express what is important to you, such as where you want to live or other topics that you think are important.
Remember that you can choose your own lawyer.
It is important that you get to properly talk things through with your lawyer before going before the tribunal. If there is anything in particular that worries you or that you wonder about, you can talk to your lawyer about it. Your lawyer can also notify the tribunal chair if there is anything that he or she should know so that we can do your best to help you to feel more secure when you attend the tribunal. If you have any questions about the tribunal case or the dialogue process, you can speak with your lawyer or telephone the tribunal. Here you can find the contact information for the various tribunals.
What happens at a dialogue meeting?
A dialogue meeting takes about three hours, and there will be breaks. You can bring with you a person that you trust to the dialogue meeting if you so wish. We call this person a ‘person of trust’. You decide whether you want to participate in parts of the meeting or not attend at all. Either way, your lawyer will attend the dialogue meeting to inform the others participants of your opinions.
Talk to your lawyer about how you would like to participate in the meeting, so that he or she can let the tribunal chair know. Remember that the dialogue process is voluntary. You can withdraw your consent at any time.
What happens after a dialogue meeting?
The outcome of the meeting could be that you all agree to try out different things, for example assistance measures, for a period of time to see if they improve the situation. It is also a possibility that you agree that it would be best for you to move to another home. In that case, the tribunal chair will write an official decision to that effect. Sometimes, no agreement is reached in the dialogue meeting, and in that case a tribunal hearing will be held later.