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A proactive approach to working with families at risk of homelessness due to ASB, focusing on resolving root causes and improving outcomes for children and families.
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Session Two: Referral Programmes Sue Rastall, Project Manager Leicester Family Intervention Project
Project Aims (1) • To work with families who are homeless or at risk of homelessness due to ASB • To identify and resolve the root causes of families ASB • To improve health, social and learning outcomes for children and families • To enable families to live in peace with their neighbours and community
Project Aims (2) • To be proactive in preventing families being evicted • To work within a strong multi agency framework • Effective partnership working to benefit females, communities and vulnerable children
Project Objectives • A better quality of life • Reduction in ASB • Avoidance of high cost options
Delivery The Team • Project Manager • Two Seniors • Administration/Finance support • Five Key Workers Sub Project • One Senior • Two and a half Key Workers
Outreach support • Offer nine hours of support a week to families that are still living in their own homes • Mixture of planned and unannounced visits • Practical help to sustain tenancies • Positive activities for children and families
Dispersed support • Offer 14 hours’ support • Work with RSL’s and LA • Six month assured short hold tenancy agreement
Core Residential Unit How we work with families: • We are “24/7” and “365” • We have round the clock staffing plus volunteers • The project takes a ‘whole family’ approach • Twin approach of high challenge and high support • We design a support plan together with the family • Engage families in project activities • Measurement of progress and outcomes • Core unit: restrictions, observations and intrusions • Close work with other agencies • Empower families to reach their full potential and take control of their life • We build and maintain a strong link with the local community
The goal of challenging is ACTION • Start new activities relating to their problems, and developing opportunities • Continue and increase activities that contribute to problem management • Stop activities that either cause problems and limit opportunities or stand in the way of opportunity developments and problem management
What we don’t do • We are not a ‘soft option’ for families or agencies - people have to face up to their problems, take responsibility for their situation and make the necessary changes • We do not advocate on behalf of families against other agencies • We do not do things ‘for’ families, we empower them to do those things themselves • We are not a homeless unit, we can’t be used just to resolve homelessness issues
Types of Parenting Intervention We currently offer: • Webster Stratton Parenting Programme which is aimed at parents of children aged two years – eight years • Riding the Storm Parenting Programme which is aimed at parents of children aged eight years – 16 years • We also offer Play Therapy which is aimed at Parents who struggle to interact with their Children • We also offer a 1:1 Parenting Programme
Types of Parenting Intervention • The Senior Parenting Practitioner for Manchester is partly based at NCH Foundations and co-ordinates courses, crèche, materials, recruitment etc. • The Senior Project Worker at Foundations is responsible for pre course assessments, delivery of courses and gaining new referrals. • We currently have nine members of staff trained in Webster Stratton Parenting and deliver a rolling programme. • All the above parenting programmes are reinforced during observations and any staff will check on homework given and key messages for that week. • We have also started to offer the parenting programmes to the local community, after close liaison with local schools.
Team Structure • Project Manager • Three Deputy Project Managers • Senior Project Administrator • Part-time Project Administrator • One Senior Parenting Practitioner • 12 Project Workers • Three Waking Night Staff • Two Security Staff • Four Sessional Workers • Three Volunteers
Referral and assessment • Housing/Police/Children and Young People’s Services • Multi agency meeting/Family contract • Support planning process
Key interventions • Parenting programmes • Anger management • Budgeting skills/tenancy management • VIG
Leicester FIP outcomes achieved Outcomes of the first 11 cases closed: • Over 80% of tenancies stabilised - six tenancies now secure and eight with SPO and no evidence of further action • No ASB reported on ten families since intervention ended • 12 Children removed from the CPR during intervention • Average school attendance at referral =63% • Actual school attendance during November 07 =92.6% • Number of young people involved with YOT at referral =13 • Number of young people involved with YOT after intervention =3 • 31 service users engaged in community activities as a result of the projects intervention
Case Study CaseStudy • Mother – 36 years old • Daughter – 16 years old • Three sons – 11, 10, 8 years old • Two young daughters – two years, six months
Case Study • Relationships between all family members were aggressive/10yr old – LAC • History of DV • Extreme levels of ASB e.g – Terrorising neighbours, criminal damage, use of weapons • Windows boarded up, graffiti
Case Study • Youths congregating in and around the property, underage use of substances • Non engagement with agencies
Intervention • Multi agency meeting held – agreed that the family would be offered a FIP dispersed property, L/A agreed to provide the property • Six month assured short hold tenancy agreement/EMH • Intensive package of intervention • ASB addressed the tenancy will become more permanent
Dispersed tenancy • Meetings held with all family members • Family agreements signed • Expected behaviour- consequences of not keeping to agreement • FIP would assist with the decorating and furnishing of the property
Outcomes • Family have been living in the property for four months • Changes that have been achieved have been amazing • Home is comfortable and clean • Garden is clear of rubbish • Family members have respect for the house and one another
Outcomes • Mum attends meetings by herself and behaves appropriately • VIG – working on family relationships • Eldest daughter attends college • 11 yr old has 100% school attendance
Outcomes • ASB being addressed by using creative methods • Sessions taking place to address anger and behaviour management • The garden has been transformed • Healthy eating has been transferred into the home
Outcomes • No violence between siblings • Children have not returned to the old address/area • More contact with extended members of family • Two year old is beginning to reach her developmental milestones • No complaints of ASB