A Crisis Intervention Service for Families

1. A Crisis Intervention Service for Families Integrated Family Support Team

2. A clear message from developing polices of the Welsh Government is that the future of effective public services in Wales must be built around integrated services to children and families to provide holistic support at every level of need. A One Wales Commitment “We will seek further powers to legislate in the fields of vulnerable children, looked-after children and child poverty.” Subject of a National consultation: Stronger Families 2008 Children and Families (Wales) Measure 2010 part 3 and part 4 Sections 67 & 68 / SECT 58 WG committed to the roll-out of IFSS across Wales IFST WG Background

3. A child protection and substance misuse crisis intervention service. We work with families where there are serious child protection concerns related to parental substance misuse. Integrated Family Support Team

4. The IFST is a multi-agency team:- Service Manger Team Manager 10 Practitioners 3 CSW 2 Substance Misuse Nurses 1 Health Visitor 1 Substance Misuse Worker 1 Barnardos Secondment 1 Probation Secondment 1 GSSMS Secondment The culture of the Team is one of reflective practice, peer support and mentoring in order to maintain effective evidence based interventions which are relevant to the families’ needs. The Team

5. The use of MI is thread throughout supervision structure to enable reflection in casework: One-to-one buddying Group Peer Supervision Management Supervision The same approach is used with our partner organisations. The Team

6. We aim to create a sustained positive change in the way families function enabling children to: • Remain home safely • Return home safely • Or develop an alternative plan Our Aim

7. A sea change in the way in which services work with families: We can’t tell if it’s hopeless: We don’t know which families will be successful until we try. Families are our partners: We share resources and accept families as partners in problem solving in their own situation. It is our job to motivate families and instil hope: We build on strengths. People do not resolve problems by drawing on their deficits. Underpinning Principles

8. Phase 1 • Initial 3 day assessment: • Intensive work at a point of crisis to motivate • behaviour change and provide child safety. • Full intervention: • Continuation of intensity – no more and no less • than the family need • Families move toward setting their own goals • Exploration of values and strengths • One worker – one family • Applying the spirit, principles and core • skills of MI M.I. and Engagement

9. The kinds of goals set by families: • Managing children’s behaviour • Communicating with a partner • Stopping/controlling drink/drug use • Planning school return • Learning new parenting skills • Establishing routines • Managing adult behaviour • Improving home environment • Building healthy relationships • Family’s and SW’s agendas come together Phase 1

10. Phase 2 Family maintenance plan Follow up and review at 1,3,6 and12 months Booster sessions if required Integrated Family Support Team

11. Family open to SSD for: 10 years Previous SSD involvement: CP registration & Care Order CPR Category: neglect Reason for Referral: domestic violence and substance misuse MI improved family relationships, increased protective factors Case Example Family 1

12. Family open to SSD for: 10 years Previous SSD involvement: Family placed on CPR twice CPR Category: Neglect Reason for Referral: 4 children accommodated after serious domestic violence incident M.I. enabled exploration of root cause of mother’s drinking Case Example Family 2

13. Family open to SSD for: 20 years Previous SSD involvement: 5 Children (1 now adult) periods of CP Registration CPR Category: Neglect Reason for Referral: Children not attending school Rent arrears unpaid = real threat of eviction Poor home conditions Both parents 20 years amphetamine use One to one session with mum looking at routines: Content, meaning and feeling reflections Made connection between amphetamine use and difficulties. Positive changes. Case Example Family 3

14. Qty Children remaining Home 36 Children returning Home 7 Children de-registered CPR 8 Children remaining on CPR 16 Children registered on CPR 0 Children accommodated 15 or remaining in care Outcome of Phase 2 Families

15. Goal Chart Progress 75% of Goals achieved Green status or above at the end of Phase 1 Intervention

16. Goal Chart Progress 84% of Goals achieved Green status or above at the 1 Month review 96% of Goals Achieved Green status or above at the 3 Month review

17. IFST Family Feedback “All back together” “Explored new ways of looking at solutions to problems with full support” “Supported and listened to” “Excellent service that encourages the family, not makes decisions for you, lets you think for yourselves and doesn’t tell you what to do” “Made my family be united” “Made us strong” “ Thought more about our behaviour and what it means for the baby” “ Able to make a home for ourselves” “ Helped me to keep my kids”

18. IFST Referrer Feedback “Useful service with clear positive outcomes” “Assisting me in the initial stages of identifying SMART goals” “The Goal Setting work was good as giving the parents focus” “Being able to offer the family time that Social Workers cannot, which enabled them to be much more open and honest with the professionals involved with them” “Extremely approachable and supportive to both myself and the family” “Good news K has done really well and seems to be very happy and proud of herself which is good. Nice outcome - well done!”

19. Thank you! Matt Lewis Matt.lewis@newport.gov.uk Suzanne Gannon Suzanne.gannon@newport.gov.uk Amanda Brierley Amanda.brierley@newport.gov.uk Newport IFST 01633 821 034