© RESOLUTIONS CONSULTANCY Introducing Signs of Safety Manchester Terry Murphy Munro, Turnell and Murphy Child Protection Consultancy Resolutions Consultancy

© RESOLUTIONS CONSULTANCY Our work and why Signs of Safety? Outcomes in child protection practice What is Signs of Safety practice? Some reflections and Q and A If there is time, key aspects of implementation But, first …..

© RESOLUTIONS CONSULTANCY What is important to you in your practice, how you do your work? Or if you are not a practitioner, what is important to you in how you want to see the work done in Manchester? Take a moment to think about that and write it down Share it with the person next to you Share a few with the whole group

© RESOLUTIONS CONSULTANCY Our Work uncertainty in available case information anxiety for workers, families and community - tragedy and contention are inherent in the work intense scrutiny incredible busyness undoubted complexity substantial requirements in process and recording and, among the most important and rewarding work

© RESOLUTIONS CONSULTANCY Why Signs of Safety? Child welfare services, government and community based, subject to cycle of reviews and reform With restructures, more rules and accountabilities Maybe some sensible principles, often but not always the right goals, a reliable list of risk factors, a sound view of children and well being BUT ….. …... a big hole, how do you actually do child welfare work? 20 + years experience of what practitioners do that works and what families experience as good and fair – a practitioners’ model Reconciles particularly strengths based vs risk based Reconciles forensic and community approaches And, it’s an antidote to having a rule for everything

© RESOLUTIONS CONSULTANCY Outcomes Research and agency data from United Kingdom, USA, Canada, The Netherlands, Australia and New Zealand Families feel more empowered and are more able to understand and act on the concerns and requirements of child protection authorities The number of children removed from families reduces relative to the number of families with whom authorities work more intensively to build safety around the children. Practitioners report greater job satisfaction due to the clarity of the approach, the usefulness of the tools and the impact for the children and families.

© RESOLUTIONS CONSULTANCY A FRAMEWORK OF INTEGRATED PRINCIPLES, TOOLS, DISCIPLINES, AND PROCESSES PRINCIPLES Working relationships are fundamental, with families and with other professionals Stance of critical inquiry – always being prepared to admit you may have it wrong Front line practitioners and families are the arbiters of whether practice works

© RESOLUTIONS CONSULTANCY A FRAMEWORK OF INTEGRATED PRINCIPLES, TOOLS, DISCIPLINES, AND PROCESSES TOOLS Assessment and planning To map harm, danger, complicating factors, existing safety, required safety and safety judgment - various versions internationally – all with the four domains of inquiry: Three columns o what we are worried about (past harm, future danger, complicating factors), o what is working well (existing strengths and safety), o what needs to happen (family and child protection authority goals and next steps for future safety) Scaling question – judgement about how safe the child is from the child protection authority’s perspective and the family’s and others Engaging children Three houses (of good things, worries, dreams) Words and pictures (for parents to explain what is happening)

© RESOLUTIONS CONSULTANCY Harm Danger DCP are worried mum will get so sad, depressed and suicidal, that whether this causes her to start using again or not that Jacksie will feel so overwhelmed she will lose focus on Tilly and new baby and then the kids won’t get the attention, get played with, talked to, cuddled like they need so they end up behind like Michael was in his development and like Tilly was with her language when they first went into foster car Complicating Factors Existing strengths Existing safety Safety goals DCP want Tilly and new baby to be with Jacksie because they know how much she loves and wants them. For this to happen they need Jacksie to discuss and create an honest, detailed plan together with her support people. The plan needs to show everyone that when Jacksie does get really overwhelmed and sad what she will do to get herself back on track for the kids or if things are too much for her what will happen then so someone in the safety network can step in to help with the kids so they always get the attention, get played with, talked to, cuddled like they need Safety Plan

© RESOLUTIONS CONSULTANCY A FRAMEWORK OF INTEGRATED PRINCIPLES, TOOLS, DISCIPLINES, AND PROCESSES DISCIPLINES Clear distinction between past harm, future danger and complicating factors Clear distinction between strengths and protection Plain language that can be readily understood by families Statements focusing on specific observable behaviors and avoid meaning laden Skillful use of authority Assessment is always in progress

© RESOLUTIONS CONSULTANCY A FRAMEWORK OF INTEGRATED PRINCIPLES, TOOLS, DISCIPLINES, AND PROCESSES PROCESSES Mapping the assessment and plan with the family and their network Being as committed to identifying what is working well as the worries Narrowing the key factors and conclusions to succinct and clear harm and danger statements Making a judgment about how safe the children are Building a safety plan – it has to be the family’s plan - from goals and actions that address the danger statements The safety plan drawing on a safety network comprising extended family, friends and professionals Engaging the children, both bringing their mapping into the assessment and explaining to them what is happening All through a questioning approach AND, how does Signs of Safety apply to other areas of practice

© RESOLUTIONS CONSULTANCY Harm Danger DCP are worried mum will get so sad, depressed and suicidal, that whether this causes her to start using again or not that Jacksie will feel so overwhelmed she will lose focus on Tilly and new baby and then the kids won’t get the attention, get played with, talked to, cuddled like they need so they end up behind like Michael was in his development and like Tilly was with her language when they first went into foster car Complicating Factors Existing strengths Existing safety Safety goals DCP want Tilly and new baby to be with Jacksie because they know how much she loves and wants them. For this to happen they need Jacksie to discuss and create an honest, detailed plan together with her support people. The plan needs to show everyone that when Jacksie does get really overwhelmed and sad what she will do to get herself back on track for the kids or if things are too much for her what will happen then so someone in the safety network can step in to help with the kids so they always get the attention, get played with, talked to, cuddled like they need Safety Plan

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Signs of Safety  Signs of Success Signs of Wellbeing Signs of Stability Signs of Achievement Signs of Motivation

© RESOLUTIONS CONSULTANCY Reflections and Q and A?

© RESOLUTIONS CONSULTANCY Learning Meaningful Measures Leadership Organizational Alignment Signs of Safety Implementation

© RESOLUTIONS CONSULTANCY A two year process and trajectory, following a preparation phase for planning, within the context of a long term, five year, commitment

© RESOLUTIONS CONSULTANCY THANK YOU!

© RESOLUTIONS CONSULTANCY SIGNS OF SAFETY IMPLEMENTATION You’ve thought about what is important to you in your practice and been introduced to Signs of Safety that Manchester has chosen to be your practice framework…. What would be the purpose of Signs of Safety for you? And what will implementing it involve, what should be in a plan?

© RESOLUTIONS CONSULTANCY Purpose of Signs of Safety practice We do all our child protection work with a rigorous focus on child safety and we have our practice, policy, procedures and organisation set up so that we can do everything humanly possible to put the parents, children and everyone naturally connected to the children at the centre of the assessment, decision-making and give them every opportunity to come up with and try their ideas before we offer/impose ours. (Andrew Turnell) What about for Looked After Children?

© RESOLUTIONS CONSULTANCY Purpose of Signs of Safety practice for Looked After Children? Looking for the child or young person to be safe and secure, and have the best opportunities to heal and thrive, we actively involve the child or young person in all the assessment and planning, as well as his or her carers, focusing particularly on the issues of importance to them, and support them to have and maintain an active support network of extended family, friends and community; while we support the child or young person’s relationships with members of his or her birth family.

© RESOLUTIONS CONSULTANCY What will implementing Signs of Safety involve, what should be in a plan?

© RESOLUTIONS CONSULTANCY Learning Meaningful Measures Leadership Organizational Alignment Signs of Safety Implementation

© RESOLUTIONS CONSULTANCY A two year process and trajectory, following a preparation phase for planning, within the context of a long term, five year, commitment

© RESOLUTIONS CONSULTANCY LEARNING Training is not implementation 70:20:10 – on the job : networking : training Introductory / basic training for all staff including leadership Advanced training for practice leaders Two year formal trajectory for practice leader development Workplace based learning Aligning supervision and group supervision

© RESOLUTIONS CONSULTANCY How people actually learn - 70:20:10 Smallest amount through formal training ~ 10% o Although this remains critical as it sets the learning content Significant amount occurs through consultation and collaboration ~ 20% o Advice and direction through supervision and consultation requirements o Working collaboratively through group supervision Most learning occurs through daily work ~ 70% o Supervision that sets work tasks to practice key skills o Expose the worker to expanding experience o Help to manage workload

© RESOLUTIONS CONSULTANCY LEADERSHIP Clear and focused commitment Strong, visible and engaged with practice Model Signs of Safety – manage and lead in the same way we expect staff to work with families Foster a safe organisation – build confidence that workers will be supported through anxiety, contention and crises Shared leadership - building responsibility “from the front counter to the chief executive”

© RESOLUTIONS CONSULTANCY ORGANISATIONAL ALIGNMENT A committee, a plan and a ‘charter’ Policies, procedures and forms to match practice Plans and targeted development for key areas of service and continuum of service Strong capacity where you bring in the work, assesment and planning with families and children Formal partner engagement National and international engagement – resources, learning and research

© RESOLUTIONS CONSULTANCY MEANINGFUL MEASURES Measurement sets practice whether intended or not – what counts is what we count Quality assurance system - develop to align with Signs of Safety results logic and fidelity  family feedback on practice  worker feedback on practice  all staff feedback on organizational culture and leadership Monitor case trends with a small set of KPIs already collected Aligned case recording / information management systems

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