The Dominion
December 6 2001

Vincent may face review of position
by Leah Haines

Family Court guidelines for psychologists, which list a book by Prue Vincent as recommended reading, could see her position with the court reviewed, the Courts Department has confirmed.

Ms Vincent, named this week as having botched a sexual abuse investigation involving a father, co-wrote the Practice of Psychology and the Law -- the only recommended text listed in new guidelines for Family Court psychologists. Familiarity with the text is one of several recommendations designed to ensure psychologists remain up to scratch.

Ms Vincent has been allowed to continue working after admitting two charges of conduct unbecoming a psychologist relating to her investigation into allegations the father had abused his children.

He has been prevented from seeing them for several years.

Though the Psychologists Board confirmed it had no plans to publish her name in connection with any of the charges, the new Family Court guidelines demand that a psychologist tell the court when they are disciplined by the board.

Fiona Saunders Francis, manager of the operations and judicial support unit of the Courts Department, said confirmation of the same charges Ms Vincent faced would see a psychologist's position in the court reviewed.

"If we were aware of the situation we would very carefully review that person," Ms Saunders-Francis said.

The courts were currently checking all their psychologists according to the guidelines, which would see each court's list reviewed every three years.

Ms Vincent said in a statement she was waiting for a written decision to be issued by the board before informing the court of her case. She said she had told it she was facing a complaint.

Meanwhile, The Dominion has received at least 30 calls from men and women claiming to have had problems with the work of psychologists working in the Family Court. Most claim to have been denied access to their children. The Dominion has asked for documentary evidence before pursuing any allegations. One caller said Ms Vincent had been a "lifesaver" for their young grandson who had been abused some years ago.