Safer Families In South Tyneside Origins, Aims & Implementation

Contact Details Stafford Devine, STSCB Business Manager  Lee Thompson, Strategic Safeguarding and Risk Manager  Christine Johnson, Lead Nurse Safeguarding  Melanie Soutar, MATRIX Service Manager 

Origins Hidden Harm Safer Parenting Safer Families Closer working between SAB & SCB Development of the CAF directorate Development of Health & Wellbeing Boards There has been a lot of change... but

Two Constants The importance of families in caring for and protecting children and vulnerable adults Safeguarding is everybody’s business  We identified the need to develop policy, practice and services to reflect these two points...  To promote joint working between child & adult focussed services

Strategy Aims: o Governance arrangements o Service development & delivery o Coordination of child & adult focussed services o Addressing the toxic trio – but has broader appeal o Evidence based interventions o Early Identification & intervention o All services, no matter who is delivering them, to be ‘Think Family proofed’

Information Sharing A long standing challenge within safeguarding Identified in almost all Serious Case Reviews Complex,  Cross agency  Cross the adult / child service divide  Law, consent, working cultures New approaches:  early intervention  Think family

Implementation Strategy Approved by SCB /SAB in March 2011 Basic information sent to staff across the partnership Development of protocol / referral pathway Development of ‘keeping children safe tool’ Strengthening children’s assessment framework

Today Staff development sessions o Increased understanding of the approach o Awareness of tools and how to use them o Beginning to address the culture change o Opportunity for staff to contribute o Moving from strategy to practice

The End Any Questions

Exercise 1 What do you believe the Think Family approach means to organisations and your individual practice? Are there any particular opportunities or barriers?

To Learn & Develop Promoting the Welfare of Children and Adults: Think Family Philosophy

Think Family Philosophy Think Family means securing better outcomes for children, vulnerable adults and for families where there is a risk and/or additional needs that may prevent good outcomes being achieved. The Think Family approach involves coordinating support a family receives from children’s, young people, adults’ and family services.

All staff, from both Adult and Children’s Services have a responsibility to notify children’s social care services when they suspect a child may be suffering or is likely to suffer significant harm. Staff have responsibility not only to children but to adults with additional needs within the family.

All health, social care and other agencies staff working in the South Tyneside locality must be familiar with the South Tyneside LSCB Child Protection procedures and South Tyneside Safeguarding Adults Board Procedural Framework. Accessed on /safeguarding-adults 948/safeguarding-adults

The Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families (DH 2000)Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families (DH 2000) Provides a systematic basis for collecting and analysing information to support professional judgements about how to help children and families. Whilst its intention is to focus upon the child, it can give a holistic overview of all family risks and/or additional needs.

Framework for the assessment of Children in Need and their families (DH2000)

Why Think Family? The Social Exclusion Taskforce in the Families at Risk review (2007) estimated around 140,000 of the 13.8 million families in England experience entrenched problems passed from generation to generation. Children of these families are, for example, ten times more likely to be in trouble with the police and eight times more likely to be excluded from school. Social Exclusion Taskforce, Families at Risk, Cabinet Office, 2007 Background on families with multiple disadvantages: esatrisk.aspx esatrisk.aspx

Evidence shows support often doesn’t succeed because it is poorly coordinated and does not take into account wider family problems experienced by individual children or adult family members. Risk factors: Low socio-economic ( parents with no educational qualifications – in and out of work / poor quality, overcrowded housing / low income / unable to afford a number of food and clothing items At least one parent with Mental Health problems At least one parent with a long standing limiting illness, disability or infirmity Substance Misuse (drug & alcohol)

The Aim of ‘Think Family’ practice therefore is to make sure the support provided by Children’s, Adults’ and Family Services is coordinated and focused on the problems affecting the whole family This is an effective way of working with families experiencing the most significant problems. But it needs top down approach

Think Family in Practice: Think Family approach in practice A Think Family Programme Board attended by senior managers from adults’ and children’s services. The Board driving forward the programme leading the early intervention and prevention work. A Think Family service based upon joint working between adults’ and children’s services Multi-agency, whole family assessments based upon the Common Assessment Framework (CAF). Safeguarding training to include Think Family approaches. Trainers working across the LSCB / SAB

Service Considerations All services which Think Family need to consider the family situation in all areas of their work, and use assessments to establish how the needs of other family members affect their client. Services must work in partnership with other local agencies. Risk assessments completed on individual cases to enable appropriate support. Services should champion Think Family practice through joint staff training, recruitment and in the information provided to service users.

Supporting Families Think Family systems depend on Children’s Services and Adult Services working in a way to reduce the impact that any problems faced by mothers, fathers and other key carers may have on the Children and Vulnerable Adults they care for.

I ntegrated Children and Adult services approach Adult and Childrens services working together where there may be instances of: anti-social behaviour, lack of discipline Poor or non attendence to school Agency concerns around parenting and meeting the needs of the children Housing concerns Health concerns of long term physical or mental health problems with parents / children Parental drug and alcohol abuse

Intervention: A multi-agency Adult Services and Children’s Services ‘Think Family’ approach could support good information sharing, prioritised actions and working in partnership to support the whole family approach E.g. Childrens Services / Safeguarding Adult Services Drug & Alcohol services / counseling Education Health Services to support physical and mental health wellbeing for parents / adolescents / children Housing Police / Youth Teams And more………… This would enable a multi-agency team around the family to progress work in a Think Family Approach

South Tyneside Vision Adults’ Services have a crucial role to play in minimising the risk of parental problems such as domestic violence, learning disability, substance misuse or workless-ness which may affect children’s outcomes. Children’s Services also play a crucial role in recognising risks and/or additional needs of adults within the families they work with.

Thank You To Learn & Develop

Exercise 2 Case Study DVD and Additional Information 1. How is the ‘Think Family Approach’ relevant in this case study? 2. How could children and adult services work together to meet the needs of this family? 3. In your group, plan how you would collectively respond and prioritise the needs of this family? Please produce and action plan and prepare to feedback.

Think Family Guidance and Assessment Tool for Keeping Children Safe in South Tyneside Overview

Forward The tool is endorsed by:  Helen Watson, Corporate Director, Children Adults and Families  South Tyneside Safeguarding Children Board  South Tyneside Adult Safeguarding Board

Guidance Aims to focus the practitioner on the Think Family Approach Family Centred Approach – looking at the needs of the whole family For use within Adult Services but a similar tool is currently being developed for Children’s Services

Framework for the assessment of Children in Need and their families (DH2000) The importance of families in caring for and protecting children and vulnerable adults Safeguarding is everybody’s business  We identified the need to develop policy, practice and services to reflect these two points...  To promote joint working between child & adult focussed services

Keeping Safe Model Think Family Think Family

Think Family Keeping Children Safe Assessment

Think Family Keeping Children Safe Assessment cont...

Think Family Keeping Children Safe Assessment cont..

0 No Apparent Risk / Need 0 No Apparent Risk / Need 1 Low Apparent Risk / Need 1 Low Apparent Risk / Need 2 Significant Risk / Need 2 Significant Risk / Need 3 Serious Apparent Risk / Need 3 Serious Apparent Risk / Need 4 Serious Imminent Risk / Need 4 Serious Imminent Risk / Need Think Family Keeping Children Safe Assessment Tool Risk Score Child in Need Concerns Telephone Consultation with Referral & Assessment followed by written referral. Child in Need Concerns Telephone Consultation with Referral & Assessment followed by written referral. Child Protection Concerns Immediate telephone consultation with Referral & Assessment followed by written referral. Child Protection Concerns Immediate telephone consultation with Referral & Assessment followed by written referral. No action required at this point Support Planning arrangements to be monitored through Adult Services. Telephone conversation with Common Assessment Advice Team CAAT. Forward a copy of assessment. CAAT Team verification No CAF in place however services are needed CAF in place. Team already around the family. Adult worker to contact Lead professional Adult worker to join Team Around the Family (TAF) Pre CAF assessment to be completed (CAAT team to allocate worker) Information shared at Early Years or Wellbeing Panel Services Allocated and Team around the Family formed if necessary. Initial Telephone call to “Front Desk” Duty Officer to take more information Referral passed direct to Duty manager for decision NFA (May be passed to CAAT) NFA (May be passed to CAAT) Initial Assessment Plan Working Plan not working increased concerns Assessment Outcome NFA - Passed to CAAT NFA - Passed to CAAT - Proceed to Core Assessment - Child Protection - Passed on to Social Work Area Team - Proceed to Core Assessment - Child Protection - Passed on to Social Work Area Team Common Assessment Advice Team Early Years Team/Children Centres/ChildcareReferral & Assessment 38 Laygate Place, South Shields, NE33 5RT Gordon House38 Laygate Place, South Shields, NE33 5RT Tel: South Shields NE33 4JPTel: FAX: Team Around the Family to include Children & Adult Services Consider support from Children’s’ Centres or Youth Support Services

Exercise 3 Implementing the learning How can you implement your learning into practice within your service?

Taking the Temperature