What works in Family Support Finola Halligan

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What works in Family SupportFinola Halligan
Brian Wood
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Definition

• Family Support is an umbrella term covering a
  wide range of interventions which vary along a
  number of dimensions according to their target
  group (Springboard)

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Barnardos provides intensive family support to
vulnerable families. Our work is driven by
childrens welfare, so we aim to
Enhance the emotional well being of
children And Improve learning and development
for children
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Why work with parents

• Child centred approach, led by the needs of
  children and families.
• Often childrens needs can be met through meeting
  the parents needs first or simultaneously.
• We work with parents in order to achieve greater
  outcomes for children.

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National organisational structure.

• Advocacy
• National Services / Childrens Bereavement
  Service, Origins etc.
• Finance
• Communication

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Barnardos Family Support Projects

• Settings Local Authority Housing
• Community Profile
• Importance of inter agency working in vulnerable
  communities.

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Our Practice

• Referral Procedures
• Criteria for referral
• Allocation of places

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Assessment Process

• Engagement with the family
• Stage 1 assessment
• Stage 2 assessment
• Service plan

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Outcomes

• S.M.A.R.T.
• Specific
• Measurable
• Achievable
• Realistic
• Time Framed

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Case example

• Referral / need
• 12 year old girl
• Parental separation
• Difficult behaviour
• Intervention
• Individual work
• Partnership with parents
• 
  

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• Outcomes achieved
• Facilitated better communication
• Improved behaviour at school
• Child appeared happier and content

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Case Example , Boy aged 5, Complex needs

• Referral Identified Need
• Living situation
• Chaotic Household
• Over crowding
• Arrears
• Chronic home management

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• Relationship and Attachment
• Poor supervision
• Poor parenting capacity
• Father in prison
• Health Physical and Psychological
• Neglect
• Addiction issues / hospitalisation
• Poor physical health
• 
  

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• Behaviour
• Risk taking
• Anti social behaviour siblings
• Education
• Poor school attendance
• SNA

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Interventions

• 1-1work with child
• Group work programme with child targeted
  specifically at his needs around isolation with
  his peers
• Play Therapy
• Advocacy Home / school
• Accessing school placement for child
• 1-1work with parents
• Counselling for mum
• Visit to dad in prison
• Support on addiction issues
• Extended family involvement
• Home management support
• Support with diet, weekly food parcels.
• Reviews\regular updates

• Referral to MABS
• Referral to EXTERN for older children
• Numerous CP notifications over the course of the
  intervention
• Inter agency work
• Facilitating the introduction of current SW
• Facilitating move into care in May 08 of the
  child
• Supporting mother into hospital, then onto
  rehabilitation facility.

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Identified\planned Outcomes

• Improved school attendance
• Improved self esteem and confidence
• Improved peer networks
• Improved parenting capacity
• Improved parent child relationships
• Improved behaviour
• Improved living environment

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Actual outcomes

• Child is safe ( in foster care)
• Childs self esteem and confidence have improved.
• Child is in school
• Child is happier, as are siblings
• Mum is addressing health issues
• Mum is addressing addiction issues
• Family home to be refurbished
• Other siblings in appropriate placements
• Long term plan to return the children to their
  community.

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Team Work

• Values / common understanding
• Supervision
• Team meetings
• Reflective practice
• Training

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What worked

• The engagement of parents
• Flexible interventions
• Whole family approach
• Sticking with it
• Being clear about our role
• Multidisciplinary working

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Where to next

• Remain flexible
• Reflect on practice and identify areas to work on
• Challenge ourselves and families
• Be innovative
• Advocacy local and national
• Acknowledge chronic need of some families long
  term support.