Signs of Safety The Joint Investigation Team by Shadi Shey, Social Worker

The Joint Investigation Team We conduct s.47 investigations We are a small team of social workers based at Normanton Police Station Crisis point involvement with families that are not known to us Our work is very short term, usually a couple of days Signs of Safety works! The direct, honest and basic approach sits perfectly with crisis point intervention

Our Signs of Safety Journey We are all total amateurs! It was essential for us to embrace change and have the confidence to make change We started with the eradication of the Written Agreements and the development of the Safety Plan We start by having an agreed goal with families and by literally looking for signs of safety Mapping Sessions, group working and managerial support and encouragement

Case Study: Fiona Referral: Referral was received from a church group leader that Fiona (7) had disclosed that she is has been raped by her brother Ben (16) for the past two years. It transpired that Fiona had told her parents about this on three occasions over the past 18 months. Mercy (5), Fiona (7), Stan (11) and Ben (16) all lived at home with their mother and father. S.47 investigation undertaken jointly with the police Ben was charged with three offences relating to sexual assault of his sister. He pled guilty to these and he was bailed to a foster placement. Gathered and shared information with agencies, i.e. school, police I watched Fiona’s video interview Numerous home visits to parents and to the children Safety Plans completed with parents Safety Plans completed with the children individually Case transferred to Initial Child Protection Conference

Fiona’s Safety Plan

Fiona’s Three Houses House of Worries Dad is going in to Ben’s bedroom Me, Mercy and Stan missing Ben Bad dreams about Ben Me missing Ben Going into Ben’s bedroom House of Good Things My little sister and my family Christmas and birthday presents My pets Pictures of Ben House of Dreams I want to be a hairdresser for my job Me as a princess Tooth fairy in a dream Me being in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Case Study Two: Nat and Leon Referral: Referral was received Nat’s school about Nat having a bruise on her face. When they asked her about it, she told them that her boyfriend Leon had done it to her. Nat refused to speak to the police about it. Nat is 16 and Leon is 17. They live separately with their parents and siblings. They have been in a relationship for around two years and there have been previous domestic violence referrals. S.47 investigation undertaken: Information gathered and shared with agencies Home visit to Nat and Leon’s parents Visit undertaken to Nat and Leon Safety Plan completed with Nat and Leon Case transferred to Early Help Hub for further support

Nat’s Safety Plan

Question to Liam and Nicole:   On a scale of one to ten, ten being that it definitely will happen and 0 being that it definitely won’t happen, how likely do you think it is that violence will happen again? Both Nicole and Liam scored - 0 Next Steps: A support worker from the HUB will be asked to work with Nicole and Liam. This will try to help them make sure that there is no more violence in their relationship. They will keeping checking if the safety plan is working and keep checking that there is no more violence If it is not working, they will see how the Safety Plan could change and what other help is needed

Final words It is first the approach that matters, then the paperwork It is about having the confidence to use SOS creatively to suit each family and child We keen to develop safety planning further - Clearer safety plans needed Need better link up with the next worker