Brighton Oasis Project Our contribution to safeguarding children in the city February 26 th 2016

Purpose of today Update you all on our work in safeguarding children Speak up for the children affected by drugs and alcohol Pay tribute to the amazing resilience and development of parents and children Seek your support in the future of BOP-

Context of the work In 2012 Brandon et al in an examination of serious case reviews noted “ …the prevalence of domestic violence, misuse of alcohol and /or drugs and prenatal mental health problems in the lives of the families at the centre of serious case reviews ….it is more common for these features to exist in combination than singly“

Children's Voices Because it can affect your family. And every night you go to bed wondering if they re going to be there tomorrow. If you re going to wake up and they re going to be there or not (James 13) Not always, cos like the person who’s doing it might get quite annoyed saying that they re not doing it or that they don’t need help. Cos if you admit you need help its like saying something is wrong with you (Faith 12 )

Future Developments Mellow Parenting – March 2016 Research with University of Brighton- Experiences of women who have been told they cannot look after their child Long term Psychotherapy for Vulnerable Young Women Residential Weekend

Brighton Oasis Project: POCAR Programme Evaluation

Where did POCAR come from – what does it do ?

Hidden Harm 2003 ACMD Report - 6 years after BOP established POCAR arose from Hidden Harm – Partnership across B and H Services Designed to reduce waits and develop a services that responds to parents with SM issues where safeguarding is a problem Adds additional elements to standard SM treatment such as Parenting, Relationship Support, Women centred approach and of course the offer for children themselves Programme is intense yet flexible – Follow on support Screening and feedback to social worker, attendances at CP conferences

Background - Parenting Our Children, Addressing Risk Psychosocial programme for women who use drugs or alcohol problematically and have social services involvement with their children Includes group work and individual key working Aim to address substance misuse, reduce risk to their children, and improve parenting skills and other relationships Access to crèche and therapy for children Works in partnership with children’s social work teams

Background – rationale for Evaluation Outcomes for adults captured via NDTMS – Successful completion – also had data on children – wanted to capture wider impact Previous analysis demonstrated reunification rates of 42 % BHCC provided access to care first data Financial burden to State BOP model offers innovative whole family approach Initial data shows impact on children’s outcomes and reunification with parents Opportunity ! 1. Turning Point Report : Bottling It Up 2006

Background Funded by the Dept of Education Innovation programme Seed funding for new ideas to radically redesign children’s social work and improve outcomes BOP commissioned NEF Consulting to undertake research using a Social Return on Investment approach Data shared through BHCC provides high level information for 356 children of POCAR participants, monitored at 3, 6 and 12 months intervals after completion of the programme.

Figure 1: POCAR referrals since 2006/2007 POCAR referrals since 2006/2007

Aims To determine the extent to which it improves outcomes for POCAR clients and their children To consider the long-term savings for the State To understand how multi-agency working enhances skills of other professionals in relation to families who misuse substances

METHODOLOGY - Social Returns on Investment principles Involve stakeholders; Understand what changes; Value the things that matter; Only include what is material; Do not over claim; Be transparent

METHODOLOGY – Developing theories of change Stakeholder interviews with service users, professionals and POCAR staff Analysis of who is responsible for the change Analysis of theories of change for POCAR clients, their children, professionals and resultant state outcomes. i.e. The social return on the investment

Theory of change for POCAR Programme users

Theory of change for children of programme users

METHODOLOGY – Value for money analysis Use of BHCC data to review outcomes Case studies developed and outcomes checked with State outcomes Monetisation of State outcomes using wide range of sources Value for money outcomes established i.e. The financial return on the investment

Case studies ‘Julie’ Gave birth in prison with history of problematic substance misuse Referred to POCAR, baby in foster care Julie engages with professionals and is abstinent from substances Plans to place baby in long term care is averted and baby returned to Julie’s care Julie engaged in Phase two programme and is doing well

Costs to the public purse avoided as a result of the intervention Kinship care legal costs - £27,354 Costs of transition to CIN plan - £1,682 Prescribing costs – £1,409 - £2,818 Mothers detox - £608 - £1,824 Residential rehab - £11,636 - £17,453 Overall costs avoided - £42,416 - £51,131 Between £ £11.40 for every £1 spent on the POCAR programme

The thorny issue of attribution Attribution refers to an assessment of how much of an identified outcome was caused by the intervention POCAR clients interviewed were asked other than BOP who else helped bring about change Others mentioned were social workers, family, foster carers, other organisations Life not lived in a laboratory !

Value for money analysis Key outcomes of the POCAR Programme: Helps reduce the number of cases with Child Protection Plans by 53% by 3 months after clients have finished the programme Further reduces CPP cases by 85% by12 months after clients have finished the programme Supports significant numbers of parents towards caring for their own children safely and averts the need for them to become looked after by the Local Authority Changes arising occur swiftly, with the majority of transitions in social care status taking place within 3 months of completing the programme

Conclusions and key messages for services Significant short and long term outcomes for children when parents attend programme Drug treatment services can deliver significant benefits to children and families and reduce social services concerns Partnership working with children's’ social work teams has all round benefits Gender specific services have a part to play